No full-fledged committee yet

Dedicated party leaders and workers are frustrated now, party insiders said while talking to this correspondent.

"As the full-fledged committee is yet to be formed due to intra-party conflict, dedicated leaders and activists are frustrated and have distanced themselves from party activities", a senior leader said seeking anonymity. "This must end to carry forward the ongoing anti-government agitation".

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Party insiders said, rival leaders and activists at different levels are divided into two groups, one backed by the newly made president district AL Md Altaf Hossain and the other by general secretary Dr M S Akbar MP.

The internal feud first surfaced in January last year when two rival factions clashed during party councils at several unions and upazilas. Both factions wanted their men in the leadership at different levels.

At least four incidents of clash took place between the rival groups in last one year.

The party high command summoned top district leaders to Dhaka in March last year to resolve the dispute. Even party chief Sheikh Hasina at a meeting with the leaders in Dhaka warned that the party committee would be dissolved for its failure to hold the long overdue council.

But party chief's instruction went unheeded and the party virtually split into two factions on September 7 last year.

The division became public when two rival factions brought out separate processions in the town protesting the Aug 21 grenade attack on Sheikh Hasina's rally in Dhaka.

The long overdue council became uncertain. The last council was held in 1992.

Central organising secretary of AL Abdul Mannan at a special extended meeting here on December 26 last year asked the district leaders to resolve the dispute and hold the council within January this year. But it could not be held due to internal feud, according to party insiders.

Finally the council took place on April 4 this year in presence of AL general secretary Abdul Jalil in which Altaf Hossain and Dr M S Akbar MP were made president and general secretary while Abu Nasir Bablu was made joint secretary.

But a full-fledged committee could not be formed even after six months of the council due to internal feud.

Altaf Hossain could not be contacted as he is undergoing treatment after an open-heart surgery.

When contacted the new joint secretary Abu Nasir Bablu said, "neither the president nor the general secretary is interested to form a full-fledged committee. Party interest is not import to them", Bablu added.