Magura BNP men scuffle in presence of central leaders

Quazi Saleemul Huq and Nitai Roy Chowdhury

District BNP leaders in Magura came under fire of grass-roots leaders and activists during a view exchanging meeting yesterday in presence of some central BNP leaders including its vice-chairman and former minister (Ziaur Rahman cabinet) Sarwari Rahman.
The leaders bitterly criticised the district leaders and blamed them for grabbing huge amounts of money through tender manipulation and for dividing the party during the 4-paty alliance rule. The meeting continued from noon to evening.
Rival party men were also locked in a scuffle on the stage after an altercation between Shalikha thana BNP leaders Alhaj Makbul Hossain and Rejaul Islam. At one stage, central Zia Parishad chairman Kabir Murad and central BNP agriculture affair secretary former lawmaker Shamsuzzaman Dudu intervened and brought the situation under control.
At the meeting held at Asaduzzaman auditorium in the town, many grass-roots leaders alleged that during the alliance rule, front ranking leaders had formed a syndicate styled 'negotiation committee' that manipulated tenders of different government departments which has seriously tarnished the image of the party.
Though some of the party bigwigs amassed several crores of taka through tender manipulation, the party is facing a serious financial crisis, they said.
Apart from 35 Union Paishad (UP) level leaders, the meeting was addressed by, among others, central BNP vice-chairman and former minister Sarwari Rahman, central leaders Kabir Murad, Shamsuzzaman Dudu, Principal Sohrabuddin, former lawmakers Newaz Halima Arley, Chamon Ara, district BNP joint conveners advocate Mokaddes Hossain and Akter Hossain. It was chaired by district BNP joint convener Nazimuddin Ahmed.
“While the party was in power, those leaders defamed our popular organisation through tender manipulation. They were involved in controlling tender on the plea of raising party fund, but it is a matter of great regret that the party faces serious financial crisis now”, Mohammadpur upazila BNP joint-convener and Nohata UP chairman Mahmud Hossain told the meeting amid cheers from the audience.
“Though vested quarters in the party formed the 'negotiation committee' in the name of raising party fund, the whole money was grabbed by certain leaders and their cronies”, said another party leader Golam Azam Shabu.
Sources in the party said the tender manipulation 'syndicate' comprised pro-BNP contractors and front ranking leaders of district. They allegedly enjoyed blessings of the then lawmaker Quazi Saleemul Huq alias Quazi Kamal, elected from Magura-2 constituency.
The syndicate was active in all departments including LGED (Local Government Engineering Department), R&H (Roads and Highways), PWD (Public Works Department). All works of the departments were sanctioned by the syndicate in favour of their chosen contractors.
Before sanctioning works, the syndicate allegedly realised 16 per cent of the estimated project cost in the name of 'negotiation money'.
The speakers also blamed front ranking district leaders for dividing the party.
“When the party was in power, instead of strengthening the party, Quazi Saleemul Huq Kamal and Nitai Roy Chowdhury were busy to place their men at different level”, Hazrapur union BNP president Mohammad Solaiman said at the meeting.
The party is virtually divided into two rival groups led Quazi Kamal and Nitai Roy. They held separate party programmes. Squabbles reached such a stage that Nitai was declared 'unwanted' in Magura by his rival faction.
The speakers demanded change in the district leadership to face the coming national election.