Showdown by Ilyas in Sylhet to counter Saifur's visit
Supporters of former lawmaker and BNP leader Ilyas Ali stage a showdown in Sylhet city yesterday to counter party stalwart Saifur Rahman's visit there.Photo: STAR
Although it was virtually a showdown by Ilyas-led faction of BNP in Sylhet, the organisers claimed the rally and procession were arranged to press the party's 7-point demand. However, the rival faction known as Saifur followers stayed away from the yesterday's programme, the first by BNP since the 1/11 changeover. Over 5,000 party activists from different upazilas and the city joined a rally held at the Registry Maidan. District BNP convener and former lawmaker M Ilyas Ali chaired the rally, also addressed by two former lawmakers from Sykhet--Shafi Ahmed Chowdhury and Dilder Hossain Selim. Three front ranking BNP leaders known as trusted men of Saifur also joined the rally. They were former district BNP president MA Haque, vice-president Nurul Haque and former city BNP chief Ahea Reza Chowdhury. Later, a procession was brought out in the city. Addressing the rally, Ilyas claimed that BNP would bag all the six seats in Sylhet district in the upcoming parliamentary election. Yesterday's rally and procession was aimed at giving a reply to activities by followers of former finance minister and BNP stalwart M Saifur in the city, BNP sources said. Saifur was on a brief visit to the city last Friday. It was his first programme in the city since the 1/11 changeover. During the visit he addressed an informal gathering of party men at a hotel and exchanged views with newsmen. Saifur also offered fateha at the shrines of Hajrat Shahjalal (RA) and hajrat Shahporan (RA). He told party men and newsmen that he was getting ready to contest from Sylhet-1 (Sadar) constituency, if nominated. Jamat leaders also met Saifur and requested him to contest from Sylhet-1 again. A day after Saifur's visit, a group of party men known as Saifur followers met the BNP chief and the secretary general in the capital on Saturday. The leaders included city BNP Secrtary Nasim Hossain, Dr. Shahriar Hossain Chowdhury and former lawmaker Abul Kaher Chowdhury, who demanded nomination for Saifur in Sylhet-1, party sources said. On the other hand, the anti-Saifur faction has been demanding a change in BNP candidature in Syhet-1. They raised the demand that Khaleda Zia contest from Sylhet-1 because of Saifur's ill health and his pro-reformist role months ago, the sources said.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments