Mudslinging by Kishoreganj BNP bigwigs over reform
Khaleda loyalists claim rank and file support
Front ranking BNP leaders in Kishoreganj are divided over reform issue, one faction supporting expelled secretary general Mannan Bhuiyan and the other siding with newly appointed secretary Khandaker Delwar Hossain.
The reformists are led by former education minister Dr. Osman Faruk and two former lawmakersMojibur Rahman Monju and Shafiqul Islam. Dr. Osman is president of Kishoreganj BNP.
Shafiqul Islam was elected lawmaker from Kishoreganj-7 constituency (Bhairab-Kuliarchar) in the controversial February 15 election in 1996.
Party sources here said the three reformist leaders led by Dr. Osman Faruk hardly visit their areas though they are seen on TV at meetings at Mannan Bhuiyan's residence in Dhaka.
Monju was last seen in the area when he came to Kishoreganj to appear before court in a case. He is on bail in several cases for alleged involvement in murder and extortion.
The other faction is led by former lawmakers Maj (rtd) Akhteruzzaman Ronjon and Ataur Rahman Khan. Ronjon was elected from Kishoreganj-2 constituency (Katiadi) in 1996 and Ataur Rahman Khan won the 1090 polls from Kishoreganj-3 (Kishoreganj Sadar).
Talking to this correspondent, party leaders aligned with Delwar claimed that they muster support of all presidents, secretaries and conveners of 13 upazila BNP committees as the 'BNP led by Khaleda Zia is the mainstream party and upholds the ideology of the party's founder late president Ziaur Rahman'.
They claimed that Ronjon keeps regular contact with party leaders and activists in the district.
BNP bagged only two seats out of seven in Kishoreganj in 2001 parliamentary electionone by Dr. Osman Faruk from Kishoreganj-4 (Karimgonj-Tarail) and the other by Mojibur Rahman Monju from Kishoreganj-6 (Nikly-Bajitpur).
Talking to this correspondent, Maj. (rtd) Ronjon alleged that during BNP-Jammaat government, Dr. Osman and Mojibur Rahman Monju abused power and were involved in corruption. They have now turned reformists to save themselves, he claimed.
Dr Osman had earlier criticised the party chief's decision calling it 'undemocratic' when she made her younger brother Sayeed Iskander a vice- president of the party.
His comment drew flak from some party leaders including Akteruzzaman Ranjon.
District Jubo Dal convener Jahangir Alam Molla, who reportedly supports Delwar, said it is not surprising that Shafiqul Islam is with Mannan Bhuiyan. “He (Shafiqul Islam) served as APS to Mannan Bhuiyan”, Molla said.
He also claimed that Mojibur Rahman Monju has turned reformist to hide his corruption. His name was on the list of corruption suspects prepared by Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) in Kishoreganj, the Jubo Dal leader claimed.
Alam also claimed that Mojibur Rahman Monju defamed BNP in Kishoreganj as his musclemen were involved in murder of political rivals, extortion and grabbing water bodies in last five years.
Police sources said Monju faces several cases for murder and extortion, filed with Nikli and Bajitpur police stations.
Jubo Dal leader Jahangir Alam Mollah claimed that Shafiqul Islam is not a factor in his own constituency as he has a few supporters. “It matters little if he supports Mannan Bhuiyan”, Mollah said.
Akhteruzzaman Ranjan, who is also a former president of district BNP, said Dr. Osman Faruq's alliance with expelled Mannan Bhuiyan “may mislead some party men for time being”. He is deserted by party leaders and activists, Ranjan claimed.
He said he keeps regular contact with party men at all levels, who are behind Khaleda Zia's leadership.
Maj. (retd) Ranjan said, Dr. Osman Faruq was a newcomer in BNP and he almost ruined the party in the district by dissolving different upazila committees which were not loyal to him or his men.
Dr. Osman tried to introduce Dhaka Mohanagar BNP secretary Abdus Salam as a BNP candidate from Kishoreganj-1 (Hussaipur-Pakundia) but all party men rejected him. To take revenge, Osman dissolved party committees in Hussaipur and Pakundia upazilas, Ranjan said.
Rafiqul Islam, who was secretary of the dissolved party committee in Hussainpur upzila, also echoed the same sentiment.
Maj. (rtd) Ranjan also ridiculed Dr. Osman Faruq, saying, “He led a two-member district committee comprising himself (as president) and Wali Ullah Rabbani as secretary. He could not even form a full-fledged district committee, Ranjan said.
Contacted, district BNP secretary Wali Ullah Rabbani said, he had no communication with district BNP president Dr Osman Faruq.
Rabbani said, he and his followers support Khaleda Zia and hail appointment of Khondokar Delowar as secretary general.
This correspondent also contacted Hussainpur upazila BNP convener Abdul Kuddus Hera, Karimganj upazila BNP president Rafiqur Rahman and secretary Monsur Ahmed and Kishoreganj Sadar upazila BNP president Masud Hilali. They said most party men in their areas are united under the leadership of Khaleda Zia.
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