Khulna BNP bigwig to join Bikalpadhara?

According to party sources, the lawmaker along with Nazrul Islam Manju met with Bikalpadhara central general secretary Maj. (Retd) M A Mannan at his residence in Dhaka recently to fix up a joining date.

The lawmaker now heading his faction of Khulna BNP also talked to this correspondent but declined to be named.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

The other faction is led by city Mayor Shaikh Tayebur Rahman and lawmaker Ali Asgar Lobi. Lobi is convenor of Khulna city BNP.

Both the factions staged showdowns in last last one year, holding separate processions and rallies as per party programmes.

Insiders in Khulna BNP said the lawmaker and Manju are in close touch with Bikalpadhara high command for about a month. They will join Bikalpadhara if BNP high command does not consider their contributions in giving nomination for the next parliamentary election. Bikalpadhara high command assured them in this regard, the insiders said.

When asked, former general secretary of city BNP Nazrul Islam Manju told this correspondent that he is yet to decide what to do. "BNP will lose all seats in Khulna district if two factions do not sink differences before the election", he said.

"There was no reason to dissolve the city (BNP) committee and form a convening committee with a non political man as its convenor", Manju said.

"We are just brooding over quitting BNP, being the worst victims of dirty internal feud in Khulna", said the lawmaker. He however sought a little more time to tell finally if Bikalpadhara would be his next political platform.

Meanwhile, intelligence agencies are reportedly watching movement of some top leaders of Khulna BNP including former Speaker Shaikh Razzak Ali following information that they will join Bikalpadhara if they are not assured of nomination by the party high command.