Inu-led JSD 'splits'

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Inu), led by Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, seemed split into two factions as several senior leaders yesterday walked out of its national council and later announced formation of a new committee.

The new faction, led by Sharif Nurul Ambia, general secretary of the party's immediate past committee, claimed they boycotted the council protesting election of leaders in an "undemocratic way".

Ambia has been named as the president while lawmakers Nazmul Haque Prodhan and Moinuddin Khan Badal as the general secretary and executive president of the new faction of JSD. The announcement came at a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club last night.

The JSD's two-day national council opened at the city's Suhrawardy Udyan on Friday. Its central leadership was supposed to be elected yesterday by the councillors at the Mohanagar Natya Mancha.

The councillors elected Inu as president and lawmaker Shirin Akhter as general secretary by voice votes.

Talking to The Daily Star last night, Ambia said electing a new leadership by a voice vote is "undemocratic". The election was supposed to be held by secret ballot.

The JSD-Inu is a component of the ruling Awami League-led 14-party grand alliance. Ambia claimed that four out of the party's six lawmakers are with the new faction.  

The JSD was spilt in 2002 when some of its leaders led by ASM Abdur Rob formed a new party -- Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Rob).