Show of strength by Rangamati LDP tomorrow

At least 20,000 men will take part in the showdown and a rally to be held at Reserve Bazar old court complex compound, LDP Presidium member and former deputy minister for CHT affairs Moni Swapan has said.

LDP central leaders Col. Oli Ahmed, Maj (retd.) M A Mannan and Mahi B Chowdhury are expected to address the rally, he told newsmen here on Thursday.

Moni said a process to form a full-fledged committee of LDP is going on and it may be announced after the showdown.

He did not give any direct reply when asked whether he will contest from Rangamati constituency as an LDP candidate in the coming election. Time will decide that.

Moni left BNP and joined LDP last month, protesting what he called corruption by BNP-Jamaat government and its indifference to issues in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).

He earlier alleged that he was the deputy minister for CHT affairs but he was never called to attend any policy meeting on CHT.

The former deputy minister said all communities living in CHT want peace but sustainable peace can not be established in the hills due to vested quarters who destabilise the situation for their personal or party benefit.

Every man and woman in CHT should remain alert against those evil forces who always try to create chaos and disrupt peace by raising communal issues, he said at the press conference held at Rangamati Press Club.

Referring to the situation in CHT in last five years, he said law and order was maintained during his tenure. Some communal forces are trying to disrupt peace after takeover by the caretaker government, he added.