Criticising Indian Deal: Facebook post causes AL leader’s suspension
The Khulna district Awami League (AL) has suspended its executive committee member Sheikh Baharul Alam for criticising the recent India-Bangladesh deals on Facebook.
Baharul was also asked to show reasons why he should not be expelled from the party. He was given seven days to reply.
Khulna district AL Office Secretary Farid Ahmed sent a letter to Baharul on Wednesday, regarding his suspension and the show-cause order.
According to the letter, an emergency meeting was held at Khulna district AL office on Wednesday where it was said that Bahrul’s Facebook post goes against AL, chief of the party, and the country.
Baharul posted the status on October 6 with the title: “It is called an India-Bangladesh bilateral agreement, but in reality it is a unilateral decision -- the interests of the people of Bangladesh are utterly neglected.”
The 247-word post in Bangla was published in a local daily, Somoyer Khobor, the next day.
Asked about the decision, Farid Ahmed said a joint meeting was held at the party office on Wednesday night. “Some leaders raised the issue of Baharul Alam there. Later, the district Awami League called an emergency meeting and suspended him.”
Talking to The Daily Star yesterday noon, Baharul said he did not receive any formal document or letter till now.
He said, “I didn’t write anything about the AL or my party in my post. I criticised it from my personal viewpoint that India is ignoring the interests of the people of Bangladesh.”
He also said, “There is not a single word against PM or AL in my Facebook post. So how will party discipline be violated?”
Dr Baharul is the vice-president of central committee of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA), president of Khulna chapter of BMA, central vice-president of Independent Medical Council, and president of Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee. He is also associated with various civil society groups in Khulna.
Baharul said the party unit took the decision without taking his statement. He said he wonders how party rules were violated by his post. “This action was taken against me as a revenge and out of a long-running factional dispute,” he said.
“I think as a citizen, as an Awami League activist, as a freedom fighter, I want to protect the interest of my country. As a supporter of the Awami League, will I not criticise America, Myanmar or India?”
Sheikh Harunur Rashid, president of the district AL, said Baharul criticised the decision of the party’ high command. “Why did he (Baharul) react when none did it?”
He said if Baharul had anything to say he could discuss it with party colleagues.
Harunur Rashid also said, “It is not like that I took the action against him. The decision came from 16 executive committee members of the district Awami League. If he wants to say that it was out of factional feud, then I have nothing to say.”
The emergency meeting was also attended by Acting General Secretary Sujit Adhikari, Vice President Molla Jalal Uddin, Organising Secretary Md Akhteruzzaman Babu, Relief Affairs Secretary Nimai Chandra Roy, Office Secretary Farid Ahmed, Education Secretary Prof Mizanur Rahman, Women Affairs Secretary Halima Islam, Deputy Secretary Shah Alam, and Executive Members Md Kamruzzaman Jamal, Kazi Badsha Mia, Ghazi Mohammad Ali, BMA Salam, Rabindra Nath Mandal, and Prof Ashraf Alumjum Jumu.