Election 2008

Internal feud may torpedo BNP hopes in Bogra

Party likely to lose ground in 5 out of 7 seats as Shokrana issue haunts voters

12 December 2008, 18:00 PM

Hasibur Rahman Bilu, Bogra

Clockwise: Khaleda Zia, Momin Talukder, Rostom Ali and Mohammed Shokrana.

Internal conflict among local BNP leaders and activists in Bogra may dim prospects of BNP candidates in five out of seven constituencies in the district, political observers and party insiders said. Talking to this correspondent, former president of Bogra Sadar BNP and central committee member of Jatiyatabadi Shechchhasebak Dal Sarker Badal expressed apprehension, saying if the situation can not be managed, BNP may lose at least two seats in the district. Grassroots leaders and activists in Bogra-1 (Shariakandi-Sonaltola) constituency is divided into two factions over candidature of 'convicted Mohammed Shokrana, said BNP leader Sarker Badal. Some other local BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami activists in Bogra-1 constituency also had derogatory words for Shokrana. Shokrana is convicted in at least four cases including arms cases. Sources claimed that he was involved in more than 30 murders including murder of freedom fighter Anwarul Kadir Anu. A case was also lodged in connection with the murder of the freedom fighter, police said. Local BNP sources said a large number BNP men have started campaigning for others including Awami League ( AL) candidate Abdul Mannan secretly. Former publicity secretary of Dupchanchia upazila Jamaat Mohammed Rafiqul Islam told this correspondent over cell phone that local party men have decided to avoid all types of election campaigning in favour of BNP candidate Abdul Momin Talukder in Bogra-3 (Adamdigi-Dupchanchia) due to alleged non-cooperation during the alliance government. “Jamaat-supported three Union Porisad (UP) chairman candidates failed in the last UP election in Dupchanchia district due to non-cooperation of Abdul Momin Talukder”, Rafiqul Islam said. Momin talukder is a former BNP lawmaker and an alliance candidate in the up-coming general election. Local Jamaat leader Moulana Abdul Kader was beaten by BNP activists under the influence of Monin Takukder two and half year ago, Rafiqul Islam said. Abdul Momin Takukder, admitted that some Jamaat activists in Dupcanchia area has decided not to favour him in election campaigning and declined that he and his party men were not involved with Jamaat leader Moulana Abdul Kader beat-up case. But Mohammed Rafiqul Islam denied it and said that at least two BNP men were arrested after the incident. In Bogra-5 (Sharpur-Dhanut), Jamaat candidate principal Rostom Ali is still in the race, said its Bogra district Ameer Shahab Uddin. Moreover, Jamaat candidate Nazir Ahmed will contest in Bogra-4 constituency, he added. Senior district BNP leaders and activists told the Daily Star that prospect of their winning all the seven seats in Bogra have become uncertain. The party has good prospects only in Bogra-6 (Sadar) and Bogra-7 (Gabtoli) as Jamaat and BNP leaders and activists are working together for BNP chairperson and former primer Begum Khaleda Zia. Acknowledging intra-party feud and conflict with Jamaat, Bogra district BNP president Rezaul Karim Badsha however claimed that his party candidates will win in all seven seats despite the internal problems.