Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat
BNP divided, voices louder for democracy in party
BNP rank and file in Rangpur, Kurigram and Lalmonirhat districts are in a disarray due to lack of leadership in districts and division of the party at the top.
Grassroots leaders and activists in Rangpur are split over support to reformist leader Mannan Bhuyan or newly appointed party
secretary general Khondker Delwar Hossain.
Asked for opinion on the current state of BNP, Rangpur district BNP president Rahim Uddin Bharosa declined to make any comment.
Senior vice-president Ashraf Hosen Borda also avoided a direct reply, saying he is too old to continue in politics. “I can not cope with what is happening (in the party) now”.
He however criticised BNP's constitution that has given 'absolute power to the chairperson'. “It is undemocratic and needs reform”, he said.
He wants reform and joint leadership in the party but is skeptical about Mannan Bhuiyan's ability to bring about the 'desired changes in the party'.
"Can Bhuiyan really do it being surrounded by beneficiaries of the alliance government?" Borda questioned.
Secretary of Rangpur district BNP Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel is absconding. He could not be reached even by cell phone.
One of his aides seeking anonymity said he (Sohel) is with Khondker Delwar Hossain.
Talking to this correspondent, some mid-level leaders criticised Mannan Bhuyan for his 'betrayal with Khaleda Zia for power'.
But they also said BNP should not go back to 'dynastic politics'. This correspondent talked to a number of BNP leaders also in Kurigram and Lalmonirhat districts.
Kurigram district BNP president advocate Idris Ali hoped that majority of leaders at district and upazila levels except district unit secretary Saiful Islam Rana would extend their support to Khondker Delwar Hossain.
He said, "Before arrest, Khaleda selected Khondker Delwar as party secretary general and dismissing Bhuiyan. Bhuyan is nobody in the party now”, he said.
He claimed that those who did corruption while in power have rallied round Mannan Bhuiya.
Idris said, "Rana may be with Mannan Bhuiya to escape arrest. He faces a number of graft charges."
Rana is absconding since the caretaker government took over. He was seen at Bhuyan's residence on TV on several occasions, Idris claimed.
Kurigran district organising secretary Shahiduzzaman Saju said, "We must learn from history. None in the past could survive in politics after leaving mainstream Awami League or BNP. Mannan
Bhuiya's mission will not succeeded."
President of Ulipur upazila BNP, TashbiruL Islam, said, " Like Bhuiyan, I also want reform and democratic practice in BNP but the way he (Mannan) is moving is wrong." He however did not elaborate.
Lalmonirhat district BNP secretary Saleh Uddin Ahmed Helal said, "We are yet to ascertain whether BNP led by Mannan Bhuiyan or Khondker Delwar Hosen is the mainstream of the party."
According to Helal, both are guilty as none of them raised objection to corruption by BNP leaders while in power.
"I will leave politics if necessary. But I can not support either Mannan Bhuiyan or Khondker Delwar Hosen."
Organizing secretary of the district unit Hafizar Rahman Babla however expressed his full support to Mannan Bhuiyan.
He claimed that most of the leaders in Lalmonirhat will support Mannan Bhuyian as Asadul Habib Dulu is with him. Dulu leads BNP in Lalmonirhat district, he said.
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