En-masse resignation threatened if Manju given BNP nomination

Lobi's rival in the party Nazrul Islam Manju is also seeking 4-party alliance ticket from the constituency.

The threat by Lobi loyalists was made at a press conference held at Khulna Press Club. They said they will go for tougher programmes including hartal if their demand is not met by tonight (Saturday night).

Addressing the press conference, member-Secretary of Khulna city BNP convening committee Shaharuzzaman Martuza branded Nazrul Islam Manju as a 'notorious godfather' of armed cadres of Janajuddho faction of outlawed Purba Banglar Communist Party (PBCP) and drug traffickers.

Besides, Manju is an agent of Awami League hiding in BNP, Martuza said criticising BNP secretary general Abdul Mannan Bhuyan for 'playing double standard' in giving nominations.

Shaharuzzaman Martuza, who is also president of Khulna Chamber of Commerce and Industry, also threatened to resign from BNP along with 16 ward commissioners and hundreds of leaders and activists of BNP and all its front organizations if the decision to nominate a 'godfather of extremists' from Khulna-2 is not withdrawn.

"It is Mannan Bhuiyan, not Begum Khaleda Zia, who is sabotaging BNP by trading on nomination issues", Martuza said.

"We will be compelled to go for stern action if a famous politician like Lobi is disgraced in such a dirty manner", said the BNP leader, warning Manju not to launch polls campaign in Khulna-2 constituency.

The press conference was also attended by five ward commissioners and eleven leaders of BNP and Jubo Dal loyal to Ali Asgar Lobi.

Convenor of city BNP and former lawmaker Ali Asgar Lobi was not present in the press conference.

On Friday, he released advertisements in local newspapers admitting to his failure to get nomination from Khulna-2 from where he was elected unopposed in 2001 bye-election.

Martuza filed nomination paper in favour of Lobi as candidate of four-party alliance from Khulna-2 constituency yesterday.