The intra-party feud in Shyamnagar Awami League (AL) over nomination from Satkhira-5 constituency intensified further as two factions of the party brought out separate processions and held rallies to enforce blockade yesterday and the day before, our Satkhira correspondent reported.

Shyamnagar upazila AL is divided into two groups over party ticket. One faction led by local party president Jaglul Haidar and general secretary Abdul Kader supports candidature of Khalilullah Jharu of Satkhira town. Nomination aspirant Satkhira district AL leader and former MP AK Fazlul Haque and local leaders Union Parishad chairmen Asim Kumar Mridha and Shafiul Azam Lenin and upazila Krishak League president Mujibul Haque oppose Khalilullah Jharu, branding him an 'outsider and seasonal bird'.

Jaglul Haidar's faction held its rally at Babla Tala in the upazila town.

Chaired by Jaglul Haidar, the rally was addressed by, among others, Anwar Hossain, Abdul Kader, Khalilullah, Zafrul Haque Babu, Anisuzzaman, Mahbube Elahi, Golam Mostafa, and Asim Joardar.

They alleged that Fazlul Haque who was denied party nomination in last election for his alleged corruption is now dividing the party to serve his interest. They vowed to resist them.

The other group led by Fazlul Haque brought out a procession from the upazila AL office at Bangabandhu Market in Shyamnagar town and held a rally on party office premises with Sadar union AL president Akbar Kabir in the chair.

It was addressed by, among others, Fazlul Haque, Shafiul Azam Lenin, Ataur Rahman, SM Abdus Sattar, Abul Hossain, Durgapada Chakraborty and Monzur Elahi.

They alleged that upazila AL president Jaglul Haidar and general secretary Abdul Kader are dividing the party by bringing 'outsider' Khalilullah Jhharu to contest election from the seat.

Knowing well that people of the upazila will not accept an outsider, the local AL president and the secretary are supporting Jharu only for their petty interest, said former MP AK Fazlul Haque.

"Their activities have shattered out hopes to regain the seat from Jamaat", he said.

In Rangpur, one faction of Awami League led by Abul Monsur Ahmed and Rezaul Kabir Raju held its programme near the court compound. The other faction led by AL central committee member Sharfuddin Ahmed Jhontu and local leader Mosaddeq Hossain Bablu held its rally on the Station Road in the town under the banner of 14-party alliance, out correspondent reported.

Party sources said the Abul Monsur faction has been holding separate porogrammes since launching of the current spate of agitation.

Some party men belonging to the faction told this correspondent that they are holding separate programmes protesting selection of JSD leader Ekramul Haque as local co-ordinator of 14-party alliance. They said, the post of co-ordinator should have gone to Al as it is the biggest party.

AL has no district committee for long allegedly due to intra-party feud. Last month, party central leaders Suranjit Sengupta, Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, Mahmuder Rahman Manna, Abdul

Mannan and Tipu Munshi came to Rangpur to form a committee in a council but it could not be formed due to clashes in between two fractions. Rangpur district AL committee was dissolved by the central committee earlier.