Bangladesh News

Awami League (AL) will investigate and take organisational action if party men were involved in abuse of some party leaders outside its Dhanmondi office on Wednesday.

The leaders were abused in a bid to create division in the AL in a planned way, the party noted.

“We will start a probe to find out whether any party man was involved in the incident. If found guilty, we will certainly take organisational action against them for breaking party discipline,” acting AL President Zillur Rahman told reporters at his Gulshan residence.

Echoing Zillur’s views, acting General Secretary of the party Mukul Bose, who was among the leaders abused on that day, said when Zillur recovers from illness, they would take action against persons responsible for the incident

Mukul, Organising Secretary Abdul Mannan, AKM Jahangir Hossain and Prof Abu Sayeed faced abuses with one of them assaulted while going to attend Wednesday’s AL Central Working Committee (ALCWC) meeting and also when returning.

Chanting anti-reform slogans, the agitating AL workers also kicked cars of two of the four leaders known to be loyal to senior presidium member of the party Amir Hossain Amu. AL workers believe that Amu has taken a firm stand against Hasina.

Replying to a question, Zillur said, “I condemn the incident (on Wednesday). ”

It was intended to divide the party, he asserted.

He however said a few unidentified people abused their party leaders.

Zillur urged party leaders and workers to maintain unity at any cost and in the face of any conspiracy against the party.

“There are no differences of opinion in the party over the leadership of Sheikh Hasina and getting her released,” he said.

The acting AL president instructed party workers to remain calm and avoid recurrence of such incidents. The partywould initiate a massive campaign to ensure this, he added.

Party leaders Shahara Khatun and Dr Dipu Moni were present at Zillur’s press briefing.

At another press briefing at party leader Abu Sayeed’s Dhanmondi residence, Mukul Bose said a conspiracy might have been hatched to split the AL in a planned way.

Mukul said those who do not want the AL to remain united and are opposed to Hasina’s release were behind Wednesday’s incident. It was orchestrated to divide the AL and to keep its office locked like that of BNP.

Abu Sayeed said conspirators railed against senior AL leaders to destroy the image of the party.