A faction of Bangladesh Nationalist Party formed a human chain in Rajshahi city on Monday, demanding reformation of the party鈥檚 Rajshahi metropolitan, thana and ward unit committees by removing individuals allegedly affiliated with the Awami League.
Several hundred of them under the banner of BNP and its associate bodies in Rajshahi formed the human chain at Saheb Bazar Zero Point area in the city to press home their demand.
Posters displayed during the demonstration included a photograph of city BNP convener Ershad Ali Esha with AL presidium member and former Rajshahi City Corporation mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, while another banner accused BNP city unit member secretary Mamun-ur-Rashid of maintaining contact with jailed AL Rajshahi city unit general secretary Dablu Sarkar.
Addressing the human, the speakers accused Rajshahi metropolitan unit top leaders of rehabilitating Awami League and its affiliated organisation leaders and activists for money.
Saidur Rahman, former president of Rajshahi metropolitan BNP Boalia thana unit, said that the metropolitan unit leaders were forming 鈥榩ocket committees鈥� by excluding dedicated and oppressed party activists.
鈥楾he city BNP top leaders are now using AL men who were once directly involved in attacking and filing cases against the BNP leaders and activists for their own interests,鈥� he alleged.
Saidur also accused the city unit top leaders of lobbying various quarters, including the district and police administrations to protect those who were accused in cases filed over attacking student-led processions during the July mass uprising, in exchange for large sums of money.
Abul Kalam Azad, former president of Rajshahi metropolitan unit Juba Dal, said that those who did BNP鈥檚 politics by day and AL鈥檚 politics by night did not have any rights to lead the BNP.
鈥楾hose who switch between the BNP and the AL depending on convenience have no moral authority to lead the party,鈥� he said, urging the central committee to immediately remove these AL collaborators and form new committees with dedicated leaders and activists.
The speakers also threatened for a tougher movement if their demand was not materialised.
Among others, Boalia thana BNP former general secretary Rabiul Alam and organising secretary Iqbal Hossain, Shah Makhdum thana BNP former president Md Masud and former general secretary Abdul Matin, Rajpara thana BNP former president Shawkat Ali and former general secretary Ali Hossain, Matihar thana BNP former president Ansar Ali and former organising secretary Khajder Ali, Mahila Dal central committee Rajshahi divisional organising secretary Roksana Begum spoke at the human chain.
Rajshahi city BNP convener Ershad Ali Esha, however, could not be reached for his comment despite repeated attempts over the phone.
