Gap in 3 BNP factions widens in Khagrachhari over nomination
Abdul Wadud Bhuiyan (left), Belayet Bhuiyan (right)
Dogged by internal feud, the rift in Khagrachhari BNP widened following Sunday's scrapping of the newly formed 11-member district convening committee in the face of opposition from rivals. The party is now divided into three factions, making its fate uncertain in the coming national polls as each group is adamant to field its candidate. In the run up to the October 18 parliamentary polls, more than three candidates are preparing for the race in Khagrachhari constituency, party insiders said. Leading their factions, jailed former lawmaker and influential party leader Abdul Wadud Bhuiyan, his elder brother and 'tainted' politician Belayet Bhuiyan and former district president of the party Mohammad Abul Kashem are likely to vie for party nomination in the polls, party sources said. Belayet is president of Ramghor Upazila BNP. The crisis deepening as the newly formed district committee led by Belayet-Salam and Nazrul had to be cancelled because of strong opposition from Wadud led faction. They also declared to resist the new convening committee. The 11-member convening committee was formed on September 9 at a meeting held at the resident of Khagrachhari Hill District Council (KHDC) Chaiman Monindra Lal Tripura, allegedly ignoring the factions led by Wadud Bhuiyan. Led by Belayet Hossen Bhuiyan, the new body included president of Hindu, Buddha, Christian Kallayan Front Prabin Chandra Chakma, district BNP organizing secretary Mostafizur Rahman Millat, press secretary Mohammad Nazrul Islam, Khagrachhari municiplaity chairman Joynal Abedin, Sadar Upazila BNP vice-president Animesh Dewan, Jubo Dal president Abdus Salam, it's organizing secretary Sanu Mong Marma, Tripura Jubo Kallayan Aikka Parishad president Khani Ranjan Tripura, Khachak Tripura and Bangladesh Marma Sangghatan Aikka Parishad secretary Babusshi Chowdhury. Talking to this correspondent, district BNP cultural affairs secretary Belayet Hossen Majumder said, “It is our party decision that Wadud Bhuiyan will contest from Khagrachhari seat.” If any group does agree to that, we will start movement against them, he said. Another leader of Belayet-Salam led faction said Wadud can not contest in coming polls as he is convicted. Wadud was given 20 years imprisonment on July 22 last year for processing illegal wealth in a case filed by Anti-Corruption Commission. “If he (Wadud can not contest, then Belayet is our choice”, he said. Former district BNP president Abul Kashem also claims himself to be a fit candidate. “ I am fit for that post. If the party selects me, I will be able to win the seat getting more votes than Wadud or Belayet”, he said. Khagrachhari Poura BNP secretary Mohammad Rafiq, who was expelled from the party allegedly at the behest of Wadud Bhuiyan during BNP-Jamaat government claimed that the party will lose the Khagrachhari seat if Wadud is nominated. People of Khagrachhari do not want Wadud's cadres any more.
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