Magura AL splits protesting 'pocket committee'

The infighting is now spreading to grassroots level, frustrating leaders and workers, giving way to a new faction in the party.

The council was held in April last year after about 12 years, where names of eight persons were announced for eight posts including that of president and secretary.

By this time, municipality chairman Abdul Gafur, who was made joint secretary No. 2, quit AL and joined BNP, alleging lack of discipline in the party.

A full-fledged committee could not be formed despite repeated instruction by the party high command.

Talking to this correspondent, leader of the newly emerged faction, joint secretary Abu Nasir Bablu, blamed the party president Altaf Hossain and general secretary M S Akbar MP for failure to form a committee.

"They are showing apathy to forming a committee, because both the president and the secretary want to retain their position in the party", Bablu alleged. He also termed the district AL as a 'pocket organisation of some people'.

"Its general secretary MS Akbar MP is the brother-in-law of party president Altaf Hossain and organising secretary Shafiquzzman Bachchu is his (Altaf Hossain) son-in-law. They are all in all in the party", he said.

MS Akbar MP however denied intra-party feud and the allegation that it is a pocket committee. The new leaders were made in presence of central AL general secretary Abdul Jalil considering their 'competence', he claimed.

He also claimed that Magura AL president Altaf Hossain might have submitted a full-fledged committee to the party high command for approval.

But joint secretary Abu Nasir Bablu refuted his claim terming it incorrect.

Party insiders said, as the full-fledged committee is yet to be formed, many dedicated leaders have distanced themselves from organisational activities, weakening the opposition's oust-government agitation and its position in the next election.

"At least 11 programmes declared by central liaison committee of 14- party alliance could not be held in Magura as grassroots level leaders and workers are frustrated with the district leadership and non-formation of a committee despite directive from the party high command," said Baki Imam, secretary of municipal unit of AL.

According to him, in a recent letter central AL general secretary Abdul Jalil asked the eight leaders in the district to form a committee within June 15. But it could not be formed due to internal feud, he said.

Party sources said that from January 2004 to April 2005, at least 14 incidents of clash also took place between rival factions led by Akbar and Altaf Hossain.

The dispute between Altaf and Akbar was temporarily buried after they were made president and general secretary of the district committee.

But their failure to form the district committee has created another group in the party, which is led by Abu Nasir Bablu, an aspirants for the post of general secretary.