Sherpur is in the grip of tension and anxiety as local leaders have protested a decision of withdrawing Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury from all district activities.
On Saturday, Awami League Sherpur district unit held an executive committee meeting and took several decisions including withdrawal of Matia Chowdhury from all district activities, expulsion of five senior local leaders from the party and cancellation of Nalitabari upazila AL committee.
Matia Chowdhury supporters Sunday burnt effigy of Sherpur AL district president Atiur Rahman Atiq, who presided over the executive committee meeting. They also brought a broom procession and held a press conference demanding withdrawal of the decisions taken by the executive body. On Saturday they blocked the Sherpur-Mymensingh-Dhaka highway for one hour.
However, Atiur Rahman Atiq supporters said the decisions were taken in accordance with party constitutions.
Organising secretary of Sherpur district AL unit Anwarul Hasan Utpal said, “We took the decisions against Matia Chowdhury and lawmaker Fazlul following the rules and regulations of the party. We will explain the whole thing to party president [Sheikh Hasina] in person.”