Rift in B'baria AL widens further as election nears

The party is divided into two factions, one led by its district president Lutful-hi-Sachchu, vice-president Amanul Haque Sentu and general secretary Humayun Kabir.

The other group is led by vice-president Md Helal Uddin, joint secretary Maj (Retd) Md Zahirul Hoque Bir Pratik, publicity secretary Md Ashraful Imam Rana and RAM Obaidul Muktadir alias Rabiul, who was private secretary to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

The two rival factions have been holding party programmes separately for months, casting aspersions on leaders of either faction. The infighting has spread to workers level, frustrating most of them, party sources said.

At a party meeting on Sunday, district AL president Sachchu said that violating instructions of central leaders, some local AL leaders are separately working for Rabiul, who has no 'position' in the party as he is still a government servant.

"Rabiul's activities are widening the rift in the party. He (Rabiul) is using party men to serve his personal interest".

On Saturday, Sachchu held a meeting to 'save the party from rift created by Rabiul'. The organisers called it a meeting of the district AL.

The meeting, presided over by the district AL president was addressed by all senior leaders including Sayed AKM Emdadul Bari, Mahiuddin Khan Masum, Nizamul Haque Khan, Taj Muhammad Yasin, ASM Yousuf, Nirad Baran Sahaji, Ramesh Ranjan Roy, Minar Alam, Anwar Khan, Md Zaydul Haque, Md Mohsin, Faruk Ahmed, Md Shahjahan, Mahbubul Alam Khakan, Md Lokman Hossain, Mobasser Ali Khadem, Shahana Khayer, Samina Mujib and Selina Chowdhury.

The other group headed by Rabiul and vice-president Helal also held another meeting in the town on the same day, saying their group is the 'genuine' district Awami League.

Vice-president Helal told the meeting that leaders of the rival faction are 'agents of ruling party'. They should be identified and expelled, he said.

Rabiul has said that though Sachchu is district AL president, he is not following instructions of central leaders.

"Only we are following order of Sheikh Hasina and party rules. They are creating a rift in the party", Rabiul claimed.

On August 17, Rabiul along with some party men and members of Mahila Awami League held a mourning meeting at Zila Parishad auditorium under the banner of Mahila Awami League.

On information, district Mahila AL chairperson Minara Alam along with some others rushed to the meeting spot, tore the banner and snatched the microphone.

She asked them not to use the name Mahila Awami League. Since she is the chairperson of Mohila AL, there can not be any meeting without her consent, she said.

On August 15, the rival groups also held separate programmes in the town.