3 BNP offices, four aspirants

Rival factions in Kaliganj upazila BNP have opened three offices, intensifying the intra-party feud.
A faction led by former lawmaker Shahiduzzaman Beltu has opened an office at Nimtala bus stand in the town.
About 200 yards away, another office has been opened at the same bus stand by party men loyal to acting mayor of Kaliganj Pourashabha Mahbubar Rahman.
The third one at Kola bus stand belongs to the group led by former Chhatra Dal president Hamidul Islam Hamid.
The three leaders of the factions are nomination aspirants from Jhenidah-4 constituency and holding party meetings separately.
Besides, Mousumi Nasrin, joint convener of Rajshshi University (RU) unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) is seeking nomination from Jhenidah-4 constituency.
Party insiders said, the intra-party feud intensified centring the planned December 18 election.
Mizanur Rahman, Trilochonpur union BNP secretary, saidif this feud in BNP continues BNP will lose this seat in the upcoming election.
Shahiduzzaman Beltu, elected from Jhenidah- 4 in 2001 polls, is on the run since 1/11 as he faces two cases for alleged extortion, one filed on August 26 and the other on September 12 with Kaliganj police station.
Most of the leaders and activists will not work for Beltu in the coming polls, many party men claimed while talking to this correspondent. They want a change in nomination in the constituency.
Starting his career as a contractor, Beltu joined BNP from Jatiya Party.
The infighting intensified following expulsion and counter-expulsion of party men by rival factions, which threw the grassroots party workers in utter despair, said Aynal Hossain founder president of Kaliganj upazila BNP.
Reformist Beltu along with Shahidul Islam Master, former lawmaker from Jhenidah-3 constituency, called a meeting in Dhaka on October 10 and expelled Moshiur Rahman. This was a retaliatory move as Moshiur Rahman was allegedly behind expulsion of Beltu earlier, he said.
Tabibur Rahman Mini, former secretary of Kaligonj BNP, alleged that Beltu amassed wealth illegally during his tenure by using party men who realized toll from government projects, markets and other sources.
Beltu should be punished as he tarnished the image of BNP in the area, he said.
Nomination aspirant Hamidul Islam Hamid however declined to open his mouth. Party high-ups will decide nomination, he said.
Acting mayor of Kaliganj, Mahbubar Rahman, said Beltu has lost and the party will lose the seat if he is nominated this time.