Khaleda symbolises mainstream BNP
Most leaders in Pabna say action against Mannan Bhuiyan correct
Majority BNP leaders in Pabna think the faction led by Begum Khaleda Zia is the 'mainstream BNP' and Khandaker Delwar Hossain is its secretary general.
Expelled secretary general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan is nobody in the party, they said.
They will not support Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan as he was expelled by the party chief for 'anti-party activities', they said while talking to this correspondent.
This correspondent talked to a good number of front ranking leaders of the district committee including acting president Abdullah Al Mahmud Mannan Master, vice-president AKM Musa, secretary Habibur Rahman Tota, Sadar upazila unit president Abdus Samad Khan Mantu and some other leaders of the party and its front organisations.
They expressed similar views about Khandaker Delwar Hossain and Andul Mannan Bhuiyan.
Bangladesh Nationalists Party (BNP) was formed by Ziaur Rahman. Begum Khaleda Zia carried the ideology of the party now, they said.
“Mannan Bhuiyan has been expelled from the party. So, he is nobody in the party now”, said Abdullah Al Mahmud. Most party leaders and activists in Pabna are with Delwar as he enjoys confidence of Khaleda Zia, he said.
“They will not support Mannan Bhuiyan”.
He however said few of the grassroots leaders met him so far. They will hold a meeting and express their resolve when the ban on indoor politics goes, he said.
Pabna district BNP secretary Habibur Rahman Tota said there may be difference of opinion among leaders as BNP is a big party. But the move taken by Mannan Bhuiyan is damaging the party and his expulsion was a correct decision by the party chief.
About reforms in the party, they said this should be done keeping Begum Zia in her position. She symbolies unity of the party and its ideology, they said. Thinking reforms without the party chief would be dividing the party to serve 'self interest', they said.
Asked how Begum Zia will lead the party from jail, they said it is a temporary problem for the party. She will come out if the trail is fair as the charges are false, they claimed.
They refuted Mannan Bhuiyan's claim that he musters support of most of the central committee leaders and former lawmakers.
Grassroots leaders and workers are with Begum Zia across the country. In Pabna, most leaders at upazila level crirticised Bannan Bhuiyan for his recent steps and statements as regards the party, claimed Pabna Sadar upazila BNP president Abdus Samad Khan Mantu. Similar is the situation in most districts, he claimed.
“If the situation changes, most leaders now with Mannan Bhuiyan will leave him. The MPs who are with him do not organise the party. The party is run by people at grassroots level,” Mantu said.
Mahmud also claimed that grassroots leaders of BNP's fronts including Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, Chatra Dal belong to the mainstream of the party led by Khaleda Zia and Khandakar Delwar.
He said Mannan Bhuiyan is misleading party men in the name of reform. The leaders now with him while soon fall apart, he added
Pabna district BNP president Sirajul Islam Sarder and organiaing secretary Kamrul Hassan Mintu are detained.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments