B'baria BNP bigwigs not with Bhuiyan
Ex-state minister, several other leaders tell The Daily Star
Most front ranking leaders of BNP and its fronts in Brahmanbaria are united under the leadership of party chief Begum Khaleda Zia, claims former state minister and district BNP president Abdus Sattar Bhuiyan.
But very few of them met with him since declaration of emergency, Abdus Sattar said while talking to this correspondent. He however said they maintained contact with him over phone but could not hold any meeting as indoor politics is still banned.
This correspondent also talked to some other leaders including vice-presidents Shafiquer Rahman and Hafizur Rahman Molla, general secretary Syed Imranur Reza and Sharail ppazila BNP president advocate Abdur Rahman.
They said that they do not support “expelled' general secretary Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan. BNP led by Khaleda Zia is the mainstream BNP as it carries the ideology of its founder Ziaur Rahman.
Sariful Islam Malder, senior vice-president of Zia Parishad, said that he along with all party workers support the newly appointed general secretary Khandaker Delwar Hossain.
Abdus Sattar Bhuiyan, who is maintaining a low profile, said he is engaged more in legal profession because there is no politics now.
Some sources claimed that Sattar Bhuiyan is maintaining a low profile because there are allegations that he amassed wealth during the rule of BNP-Jamaat rule.
According to tax officials, Sattar Bhuiyan legalised Tk one crore undeclared income by paying Tk 12,31, 000 taxes and fees last month.
Sattar Bhuiyan said he will work for BNP which was formed by late president Ziaur Rahman.
"Mannan Bhuiyan is no more with BNP and it is not our headache where he is. It is clear that we are still with BNP and will remain in the party ", Sattar Bhuiyan said.
He said the party leaders will meet and discuss Khaleda's arrest after ban on indoor politics is withdrawn.
Sattar Bhuiyan claimed that no BNP leader of Brahmanbaria met Mannan Bhuiyan after his expulsion from the party.
It was gathered that Md. Abdul Khaleque, president of Bancha-rampur upazila BNP, along with a group of party men met Manna Bhuiya recently in Dhaka.
Asked about this, Sattar Bhuiyan said they might have met Mannan Bhuiyan for 'personal work'.
In political circles in the district, it is widely discussed that two front ranking BNP leaders are quitting politics.
They are former lawmaker advocate Haroon Al Rashid and party's senior vice-president Hamidur Rahman Hamdu.
Contacted, they avoided a direct reply but said they do not like mudslinging.
Haroon Al Rashid said he was elected from Brahmanbaria-3 constituency five times consecutively. He said he does not like mudslinging in politics.
Haroon however said, "Politics is one kind of disease. There is no last word in politics.
"If I am attacked with such disease again or circumstances compel to do politics, I will be with the mainstream BNP that can be run by only Khaleda Zia."
Some sources however claimed Harooin will return to politics with full vigour once emergency is lifted.
According to tax officials, Haroon legalised over Tk 60 lakh undeclared income by paying Tk 6 lakh taxes.
Haroon however told this correspondent that some relatives deposited their money with his account and so he had to pay the taxes.
Advocate Hamidur Rahman Hamdu, said he joined BNP being inspired by the Sheed President Ziaur Rahman. He will not be in BNP if the party is divided.
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