Magura BNP factions start mudslinging on streets

Rival BNP factions led by general secretary Ali Ahmed Biswas (top) and vice-president Nazimuddin brought out separate processions in Magura town on Sunday after rallies accusing each other. PHOTO: STAR

One faction led by Magura BNP vice-president Nazimuddin calls the party general secretary Ali Ahmed Biswas an 'outlaw' and demands his immediate arrest. The other faction led by Ali Ahmed calls their rivals as 'agents' of the opposition.

Tension mounted in the town as the two rival factions led by Ali Ahmed and vice-president Nazimuddin Ahmed brought out separate processions and held rallies on Sunday as part of the party's countrywide programmes to protest 'destructive politics' of 14- party opposition alliance.

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Nazimuddin led the procession under the banner of municipality unit of BNP while Ali Ahmed led the rival groups under the banner of the party's district unit.

As the rival factions were on streets, Magura Police Superintendent Mia Lutfar Rahman Chowdhuory along with a large number of policemen followed them to stave off any untoward incident.

At the rally of Nazimuddin-led faction, speakers demanded immediate arrest of Ali Ahmed for his alleged involvement with outlawed Sarbahara Party and amassing crores of taka through tender manipulation. They also urged the administration to verify his sources of his income and wealth and vowed to resist his political activities.

Terming Ali Ahmed as an 'outlaw', they also alleged that he is accused in at least 19 cases including four for murder, one for looting Madhukhali police station in Faridpur, three for robbery and the rest for kidnapping and other crimes.

The meeting was addressed by, among others, Nazimuddin Ahmed, municipality chairman Abdul Gafur, former central JCD leader Monwar Hossain Khan and former Magura district Jubo Dal president Khan Hasan Imam Suja.

Talking to this correspondent, Ali Ahmed Biswas denied his involvement with outlaws and in tender manipulation. He however admitted that he faces some criminal cases and claimed that those were lodged during Awami League rule to harass him.

When asked about separate party procession by his rivals, he said followers of some "expelled leaders" did that to damage his image.

Speakers at the other meeting of Ali Ahmed-led faction, held at Nomani Maidan, called their rivals as 'agents' of opposition alliance and claimed that they were trying to damage the party image through anti-organisational activities.

Meanwhile, a faction of district Jatiyatabadi Chattra Dal (JCD) led by its general secretary Shahidul Islam Rupak staged a token hunger strike in front of Magura Press Club demanding party high command's intervention to resolve the intra-party feud.

The other faction of JCD led by its president Nazmul Hasan Liton did not take part in the token hunger strike. Talking to newsmen Liton termed Rupak's programme as a 'drama' and claimed that the JCD general secretary is a follower of Ali Ahmed Biswas.