11 BNP men to seek ticket, but back party nominee

The 11 leaders at a press conference Friday evening said all of them would seek nomination for contesting in Kushtia-4 (Daulatpur) constituency.

In the written statement signed by them, the leaders however said once the nomination is announced by the party, all of them would work together for the party nominee.

The press conference was marked by a brawl when one of the leaderslocal lawmaker Reza Ahmed alias Bachchu Mollasaid he was the 'fittest' man to get nomination.

The rest 10 leaders who were signatories to the statement and were present at the press conference were industrialist Nasir Uddin Biswas, Daulatpur upazila BNP vice-presidents Ruhul Kuddus, Mozibur Rahman and Rezaul Haq, general secretary Sahid Sarkar Mongol, assistant secretary Akbar Ali, joint secretaries Golam Mustafa and Ramjan Ali, publicity secretary Zohurul Karim, Kushtia district BNP vice-president Altaf hossain and Kamal Hossain.

Elderly party leader Nasiruddin Biswas read out the statement at the press conference held at Daulatpur Shilpokala Academy Friday evening.

At one stage, Bachchu Molla, lawmaker from the constituency, claimed that he was the 'fittest' person to get nomination and the only BNP man who could win the election from Kushtia-4 constituency.

No sooner had he said this, activists loyal to Nasir Uddin Biswas protested, ensuing a brawl.

Leaders cooled them down and again told journalists that they would work together for the party nominee, whoever he might be.

As the press conference ended, many party workers were heard saying while leaving: Is it the beginning or an end to rift in the party?

Bachhu Mollah, was elected in a by-election held on January 31, 2004 following the death of his father Ahsan-ul-Haq Mollah, a former minister.