Internal conflict has hit hard the BNP’s local units in the northeastern division of Sylhet with several committees functioning partially or expired.
BNP runs its party operation in Sylhet division with five organisational units – Sylhet metropolitan and district units for Sylhet, Sunamganj, Habiganj and Moulvibazar.
Conflict in BNP Sylhet metro unit
The metropolitan unit announced its committee on Apr 27, 2017 nearly a year and half after holding the council on Jan 7, 2016.
A total of 237 people sit in the body, which party insiders say is a violation of the charter.
“Upon Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s clearance, the size of the committee was expanded in an effort to maintain discipline,” metro unit President Nasim Hossain told Bangla Tribune.
According to sources in party, Organizing Secretary Miftah Siddiqi allegedly leads a faction of the party, which he categorically denied.
“This is not right. We don’t have that much internal conflict,” said Siddiqi.
The president echoed Siddiqi. “It cannot be called a feud, rather some people have been not active,” he said.
Meanwhile committees to the 27 ward-based units have expired, but new ones ar yet to be announced.
“The party don’t want to see any internal conflicts ahead of national election, so it’s delaying the announcement of new committee,” said Nasim.
Sylhet district unit
At present, the number of Sylhet district unit committee’s member stands at 230 against the figure of 130 as outlined by the party’s charter.
“We had to form the committee violating the party constitution as it deemed necessary. We, however, informed the central leadership,” BNP Sylhet district unit President Abul Kaher Shamim told Bangla Tribune.
BNP is yet to bring new leadership for units in 13 Upazilas and 4 municipalities’ as its 2-year tenure as per the party constitution already expired.
The district president said new committee will be given “on time” as “the party charter is no Bible”.
Partial committee in Sunamganj
BNP Sunamganj district unit is yet to announce its full committee since a new leadership took charge on May 26, 2017.
“The process on forming a full committee is underway to avoid any internal conflict and it’s taking time,” district unit President Kalim Uddin Ahmed Milon told Bangla Tribune.
Tenure of the committees in the district’s 11 Upazilas and four municipalities also expired.
Conflicts arose between district general secretary Nurul Islam and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Advisory Council member Fazlul Haque as they both want to vie in Sunamganj-4 constituency on the party ticket in the next election.
Both Islam and Haque denied comment.
No committee for 5 year in Habiganj with groupings
Last time, BNP announced its Habiganj district committee on Apr 26, 2011 with Syed Md Faisal and GK Gaus as president and general secretary (GS) respectively.
According to the party constitution, the committee should have been dissolved after two year meaning that no new leadership for last five years.
Internal conflict also hit hard as party supporters are divided in four factions, separately led by the president, the GS, Joint Secretary Amionur Rashid Emran and Organising Secretary (OS) Enamul Haque Selim.
Bangla Tribune couldn’t reach both the president and the GS as Faisal is in abroad now while Gaus did not receive the phone.
“Our non-democratic manners as well as the government’s oppression on BNP delayed the announcement of the new leadership,” said OS Selim, who vowed to contest on BNP ticket in the Habignaj-3 constituency in next election.
Conflict hits hard on Moulivibazar unit
Internal feud between the district unit president, M Naser Rahman and general secretary, Mizanul Rahman has delayed the formation of the full committee, which was partly announced on May 27, 2017.
“Thirty two out of 48 present committee members put no confidence on the GS and it delays giving the full committee,” Rahman told Bangla Tribune adding, “They informed the party high command.”
GS Mizan said that his president doesn’t accept him as the GS.
“So, how can the full committee be formed? I’ve informed the party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir,” he said.
