Internal feud in ruling party forum brightens DAB prospect in Ctg

Internal rivalry between two groups of ruling party backed Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad (Swachip) may dim the prospect of their candidates in tomorrow's election of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) in Chittagong.
Two panels of Swachip are now vying for the upcoming polls while opposition backed Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB) with the support of Jamaat-back National Doctors Forum (NDF) also fielded a panel for the election.
DAB is refraining from contesting the polls in all other places of the country excepting that of BMA Chittagong district unit.
On last Thursday, DAB decided to contest the BMA Chittagong district election to retain the office in the wake of rivalries between the two groups of Swachip Chittagong unit.
The two Swachip panels are Dr Sheikh Shafiul Azam-Dr Nasiruddin Mahmud Parishad and Prof Dr AQM Sirajul Islam-Dr AMM Minhazur Rahman Parishad.
Shaiful-Nasir Parishad, through newspaper advertisements, claimed it as the lone central committee recognised panel to run the election of BMA, Chittagong district.
However, Sirajul-Minhaz Parishad leaders alleged that Safiul-Nasir Parishad had been formed for only a three-month period about three and a half years ago.
"Both the committees of Swachip district unit and Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) unit lost validity and got dissolved automatically after their tenure expired," said Dr Minhazur Rahman, general secretary candidate of Sirajul-Minhaz Parishad.
Candidates of both the panels are now trying to woo voters by criticising others, sources said.
Shafiul-Nasir Parishad leader Shafiul alleged that the candidates of Sirajul-Minhaz Parishad joined hands with DAB leaders against them.
"The committee was formed for a three-month period. But we continued our office upon the approval of the central committee," he claimed.
DAB submitted its panel where Dr Golam Martuza Harun and Dr Khurshid Jamil will contest for the posts of president and general secretary respectively.
A total of 2,620 doctors will cast vote to elect 23 executive body members of BMA Chittagong district.