Jhenidah, Netrakona BNP in crisis as bigwigs held, hiding or inactive

Failing to get proper guidance from leaders, BNP activists in Jhenidah and Netrakona districts have remained virtually inactive even after over one week of lifting ban on the indoor politics.
Four top ranking leaders of Jhenidah district BNP including its president, vice-president, general secretary and organising secretary, who are also former lawmakers, are on the run since promulgation of the state of emergency, reports our Jhenidah correspondent Azibor Rahman and Magura correspondent Hossain Seraj.
Most of the BNP's district and upazila level offices are still under lock and key amid frustration among party leaders and activists.
President of BNP's district unit Moshiur Rahman was elected lawmaker from Jhenidah-2 constituency for three consecutive terms from 1991. He was also made a whip of parliament and the organising secretary of Khulna divisional BNP.
With allegations of involvement in extortion, murder and other crimes during the four-party alliance rule, Moshiur went into hiding after declaration of emergency.
Moshiur has already been charge-sheeted in two separate cases -- one for extortion and another for killing a man.
General secretary of district unit BNP and former lawmaker of Jhenidah-3 constituency Shahidul Islam Master also went into hiding after promulgation of the state of emergency. He is accused in 10 criminal cases -- eight for extortion and two for grabbing relief materials.
There are allegations that with his unbridled power during the four-party alliance rule, Shahidul, once a physical instructor of Maheshpur Secondary School, amassed wealth several crore taka through extortion, tender manipulation, embezzling relief goods and other illegal means.
Vice-president of district BNP and former lawmaker of Jhenidah-4, Shahiduzzaman Beltu has also remained away from his constituency after two extortion cases were filed against him with Kaliganj Police Station.
District organising secretary and former lawmaker of Jhenidah-1, Abdul Wahab also went into hiding after declaration of emergency. Wahab allegedly amassed huge money luring job and through other illegal means.
Meanwhile joint-secretary of the same unit BNP Abdul Alim is remaining inactive.
As most of the front ranking leaders are either on the run or inactive, organisational activities could not be strengthened despite ban on indoor politics was lifted, party insiders said.
However, district BNP vice-president advocate Alaol Huq Alo denied any crisis in Jhenidah BNP and said, “At present honest and dedicated leaders are controlling the party”.
Our Netrakona correspondent Jahangir Alam adds:
Allowing indoor politics is yet to boost up BNP activists in the district as a former state minister is in jail while three former lawmakers of the party are virtually inactive since declaration of emergency.
Just after expiry of the tenure of last four-party alliance government, former lawmaker MA Karim Abbasi, who served as the president of Netrakona district BNP for 15 years, left the party to join in LDP led by Oli Ahmed.
Former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar, who was arrested after the declaration of emergency in January last year.
Three other former BNP lawmakers in the district -- Abu Abbas, Dr Mohammad Ali and Begum Khadiza Amin are yet to take any initiative to activate the party workers even after allowing indoor politics, said party sources.
Party men are seen gathering at different points of the district town and roaming around private chambers of the leaders while no formal meeting has been held after allowing indoor politics, party sources said.
Several leaders and activists of BNP said corruption and partiality by relatives and accomplices of ex-state minister Lutfozzaman Babar during the four-party alliance rule frustrated many leaders and activists and they are not coming to the party offices even after allowing indoor politics.
Netrakona district BNP general secretary advocate Mahfuzul Haque, who has started contacting field level leaders and activists, said all leaders and workers of Netrakona district are united under the leadership of Begum Khaleda Zia.