Rift in Bandarban BNP dims 4-party hope

Internal feud in Bandarban BNP may torpedo the hope of BNP-led four-party alliance in Bandarban constituency for the forth consecutive period in the coming parliamentary election.
Division in district BNP that surfaced during formation of a convening committee in June this year gave rise to two factions -- one led by former district BNP chairperson Mayma Ching and the other by former senior vice-president Sachingprue Zeri and former secretary Kazi Mohtul.
Sachingprue Zeri as BNP-led four-party alliance nominee is conducting election campaign while his rival group is determined to cause 'a bad turn' to him, party insiders said.
In 1991, 1996 and 2001 national elections, Zeri was defeated by Awami League candidate Bir Bahadur who is contesting as AL candidate in the constituency this time too.
Another candidate in the seat, Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) leader KS Moung is also in the campaign.
Internal feud in district BNP turned serious centring formation of a 51-member convening committee, where top five district level leaders including district chairperson Mayma Chaing were not included.
On condition of forming a full-pledged district committee through holding of party's council within 90 days, party's central Secretary General Khondaker Delwar Hossain approved the new committee headed by district secretary Kazi Mohtul on June 9 this year.
However, party's council was not held till date and the feud intensified.
Terming the present convening committee as a pocket committee of advocate Kazi Mohtul and Sachingpru Zeri, Mayma Ching said, “Sachingpru Zeri is a seasonal bird as who usually appears in Bandarban shortly before the national election.”
“In spite of my sincere work at grassroots level to organise the party I have been removed as part of a conspiracy. Mohtul also expelled many dedicated grassroots leaders and activists and included new faces,” she said.
“I don't think Zeri would be a match to fight with Awami League candidate Bir Bahadur,” she added.
Kazi Mohtul, on the other hand, said, "We did not include Mayma Ching in the new committee as she had announcement her retirement from politics. A few other leaders were excluded due to involvement with anti-party activities and various allegations.”
“We are optimistic about victory of our candidate Zeri as Bir Bahadur had failed to meet people's expectations despite being elected lawmaker for three times,” he said.