Magura AL factions hold separate meets

Tension mounted in Awami League (AL) rank and file in Magura yesterday as rival factions of Sreepur upazila AL held separate meetings over sending a panel of five possible candidates for the December 18 national election.
One faction led by Sreepur upazila AL president Akbar Hossain Mian and its executive committee member Molla Nabuot Ali held a meeting on the premises of local public library at the upazila headquarters.
The other faction led by its recently removed general secretary Nurul Hossain Molla held its meeting on Kajoli Bazaar high school premises, about two kilometers away.
Police were deployed at both the venues.
“We deployed police at the meeting spots, only to maintain law and order”, Sreepur OC MA Salam told this correspondent when asked.
At the meeting on public library premises, leaders of eight union committees and upazila AL urged central leaders not to nominate former lawmaker Dr. MS Akbar again from Magura-1, accusing him of alleged link with Jamaat and BNP men. They vowed to resist him in the constituency if nominated. They aid they will work for any candidate other than Dr. Akbar.
With upazila AL senior vice-president Abdul Kuddus Master in the chair, the meeting was addressed by seven other AL nomination seekers from Magura-1 constituency (Magura Sadar and Sreepur upazila)---Akbar Hossain Mian, Molla Nabuot Ali, Maj. Gne. (rtd.) Abdul Wahab, Quazi Rejaul Karim, Mian Serajul Islam, Quazi Rafikul Islam and Jamir-ul-Islam Pintu. Presidents and general secretaries of eight unions also spoke.
At the meeting on Kajoli High School premises, the speakers however called Dr. MS Akbar an honest and competent leader and urged the central leadership to nominate him again.
Magura AL president Altaf Hossain, senior vice-president Tanjel Hossain Khan, former lawmaker MS Akbar, Nurul Hossain Molla and several union and upazila level leaders addressed the meeting.
Earlier, on Wednesday (November 5), rival party men in Sreepur sued seven district committee leaders including former lawmaker MS Akbar and Altaf Hossain, terming their seven-member district committee illegal. The plaintiffs sought a court injunction on functioning of the 'so-called' committee.
Sreepur upazila AL president Akbar Hossain Mian and its executive committee member Molla Nabuot Ali filed the case with Assistant Judge's Court (Magura Sadar).
Assistant Judge Sultana Razia issued show cause notices on the seven party leaders and asked them to submit documents within seven days to prove that the committee is legal.