Leaders of the Rajshahi city unit of the ruling Awami League on Monday protested at Rajshahi-6 constituency lawmaker and former state minister for foreign affairs Shahriar Alam’s comment on AL presidium member and Rajshahi city mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton.
Branding Shahriar, also Bagha upazila AL president, as a ‘hybrid’ leader and a ‘conspirator’ to destroy AL politics in the Rajshahi region, the protesters also urged the party chief and prime minister Sheikh Hasina to take necessary action against him.
On June 22, two factions of AL leaders and activists clashed at Bagha over collecting additional money in the name of Upazila Deed Writers’ Association, leaving at least 50 activists injured.
Of the injured, Bagha upazila AL general secretary Ashraful Islam Babul succumbed to his injuries at the Rajshahi Medical College Hospital on Wednesday afternoon.
While attending Babul’s namaz-e-janaza on June 27, Shahriar blamed Khairuzzaman Liton, Rajshahi-3 constituency lawmaker Asaduzzaman Asad, and Bagha upazila parishad chairman and Rajshahi district AL joint general secretary Layeb Uddin Lavlu for Bamul’s death.
He also announced that a case would be filed against them for Babul’s killing, and he would not leave the streets until the three were punished.
Addressing the press conference, AL Rajshahi metropolitan unit organising secretary advocate Aslam Sarkar said that ‘conspirator’ Shahriar Alam’s announcement created extreme discontent among AL leaders, activists, and the general public.
‘Ambitious Shahriar Alam has adopted a stance that is against the policies and ideals of the Awami League, engaging in activities that undermine party discipline,’ he said.
Vice president Tabibur Rahman Sheikh asked party leaders and activists to be calm and not to hold any programme on this issue without their permission as AL central leaders assured them of looking into it.
Among others, Rajshahi metropolitan unit AL president freedom fighter Mohammad Ali Kamal and joint-general secretary Mostak Hossain were present at the press conference.
Earlier, heroic freedom fighters, lawyers, Rajshahi district and city units Jubo League, Swechchhasebak League, Sramik League, and Chhatra League declared Shahriar Alam unwanted in Rajshahi and urged the AL central committee to expel him from the party.
