Sec 144 again as BNP factions call programmes

Faridpur upazila administration in in the district has again imposed Section 144 in and around the upazila headquarters as two factions of local BNP called their programmes at the same venue and same time.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Atiqur Rahman yesterday said the restriction on holding any programme in the municipality area will remain in force for 63 hours until 11:00pm on Thursday.
The two factions--one led by BNP upazila unit President Johurul Islam Bokul and the other by General Secretary Md Abdul Hakim--had earlier announced to hold programmes for three days at Faridpur football field from Tuesday morning, marking the birth anniversary of party's Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman.
Internal feud in the upazila unit surfaced after the district committee approved a 71-member committee in 2010. Except Johurul, none of his supporters was given any post in the committee.
Since then, both groups announce programme and counter programme at the same venue same time. They could not hold any programme on the death anniversary of Ziaur Rahman, on May 31 and on November 7 this year as the upazila administration slapped restrictions on holding their programmes, fearing factional clash.
“Being a president of the upazila unit, Bokul does not work for the party. He always calls counter program and give a chance to the local administration to foil our programme by imposing Section 144,” Abdul Hakim alleged.
Refuting the allegations, upazila BNP President Johurul Islam Bokul, also chairman of Faridpur Upazila Parishad, said the dedicated leaders and activists of the upazila unit do not support the committee formed through an undemocratic process.
Bokul group is reportedly backed by former lawmaker Saiful Islam Suja while Hakim group by former lawmaker KM Anwarul Islam. Local BNP sources said the internal feud in the unit will deepen further as both (Suja and Anwar) will seek party nomination in the next parliamentary election from the area.
Contacted, Habibur Rahman Tota, general secretary of Pabna district BNP, said both Bokul and Hakim are performing anti-organisational activities. “We will issue show cause notices on them this week,” he said.