Fate of ‘reformists’ in BNP still not clear

Trackback URL

Download PDF

Many so-called reformist leaders of BNP are facing the wrath of their party colleagues in respective areas and constituencies across the country, as the activists are still confused about the dissidents’ position in the party.

Many former BNP lawmakers known as ‘reformists’ did not even visit their constituencies during the Eid holidays to avoid untoward incidents, although party Chairperson Khaleda Zia after her release from detention had said every leader may work for the party from his or her respective position.

Following her announcement, leaders of the now dissolved ‘reformist’ faction including its Acting Secretary General Maj (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed declared that they will work under the leadership of Khaleda.

Some ‘reformist’ leaders including Saifur Rahman, Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, Sadeque Hossain Khoka, and Hafizuddin Ahmed even met Khaleda to express their ‘unconditional loyalty’ to her.

Saifur and Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman also attended the meeting of the party’s standing committee with the chairperson in the chair.

But many ‘reformist’ leaders and former lawmakers have already been harassed during visits to their areas or constituencies.

Terming the situation ‘unfortunate’, BNP Standing Committee Member Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman told The Daily Star on Monday that the party should take immediate strict measures against such kinds of activities.

“This is harmful for the party, the chairperson herself asked all to work for the party from their respective positions,” said Mahbubur also known as a ‘reformist’.

An anti-dissident leader however said it is quite normal that activists will express their resentments against those who ‘betrayed the party during bad times’.

Supporters of ‘disbanded reformists’ and Khaleda loyalists clashed on Friday in Gauranadi of Barisal leaving at least 35 people including a policeman and a journalist injured.

The clash started when staunch Khaleda loyalists attacked former BNP lawmaker Jahiruddin Swapan, who had jumped onto the ‘reformist’ bandwagon led by Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, was heading towards Gauranadi Press Club escorted by his supporters.

Masud Hasan Mithu Talukdar, vice-president of Gauranadi unit of Jaba Dal, youth front of the party, even filed a criminal case against Swapan and his supporters on Monday, accusing them of extortion.

In another incident, a group of anti-dissident activists attacked former lawmaker Mosharraf Hossain Mangu on Sunday in his constituency when he was exchanging Eid greetings with the people.

In Moulvi Bazar a group of party leaders declared that former BNP lawmaker MM Shaheen is not a member of BNP anymore.

Saifur Rahman and his followers are also facing resistance from local rival Ilyas Ali and his followers, as Ilyas supporters are now dominating the party in Sylhet.

Although Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan remains expelled from BNP, he still holds tremendous support in his area Narsingdi, as most of the party leaders and union parishad chairmen there are still backing him.

Former lawmaker Khairul Kabir Khokon, a pro-Khaleda leader, however is trying to establish supremacy in Narsingdi through manoeuvring to keep Bhuiyan out of the party.

Some leaders of Bhola BNP have taken a strong position against Maj (retd) Hafiz, they even met the party’s senior leaders recently including the secretary general, and lodged complaints against Hafiz.

Leave a Reply