Saifur draws sympathy from Moulvibazar opposition leaders

In the latest of show of strength and support to Saifur Rahman, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), student front of ruling BNP, brought out a big motorcycle procession in the district town on Tuesday, vowing to give a "befitting rebuff to the audacious comments" by Ilias against Saifur.

The growing show of strength by BNP and its fronts in Saifur's home district has also drawn attention of opposition leaders, who talked to this correspondent over the row between the longest-serving BNP minister and Ilias Ali, reportedly enjoying blessings of Hawa Bhaban, which string-pulls the ruling BNP.

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Elderly politician former Moulvibazar district Awami League president and former opposition whip in the Jatiya Sangsad Md. Azizur Rahman said Saifur has been "trapped in a situation by his own party men as he does not know anything of political game".

He (Saifur) had joined politics without any political background, the elderly AL leader said.

"Saifur should be honoured by BNP as he contributed a lot to the party and is an important man in the country".

BNP should bring together senior and junior leaders, he said without commenting about Ilyas.

"Such situation is not new for BNP as it has no political ideology", Azizur Rahman said.

Syed Abu Zafar Ahmed, CPB (Communist Party of Bangladesh) Presidium member and general secretary of its Moulvibazar district unit, said internal conflict is not new for BNP but the party should evaluate contributions of its leaders at different stages.

Md. Abdul Haque, district JSD (Inu) president, said it was not proper for Saifur Rahman to gave shelter to Ilias Ali as he was a "terror". So what is happening in Sylhet BNP now is not unusual, he commented. Md. Golam Mostafa Chowdhury, president of district NAP (Mozaffar) said.

BNP will suffer if Saifur resigns but it is not so important in national perspective. A political leader has nothing to worry if he really works for people. Now it is time to do politics for people, he said.

Dr. Gopesh Chandra Das, president of district Ganatantri Party, termed the situation in Sylhet BNP "a normal matter" as it does not practise democracy within the party.