BNP ‘failing to control its grassroots’

The National Citizen Party yesterday criticised the BNP for "failing to control its grassroots", resulting in factional clashes and attacks carried out on its rivals.

"We have been noticing that the BNP central leadership has no control at the local level," the NCP said in a statement. 

"It's right that the central leaders frequently speak out against attacks for political reasons and expel disobedient and criminal activists, but violent activities continue.

"This is making the country's political situation confusing and unstable," said the NCP, urging the BNP central leaders to take effective measures against crime, extortion, and illegal grabbing.

The statement, signed by NCP Joint Member Secretary Saleh Uddin Sifat, came in the wake of an attack on Azizur Rahman Bachchu Mollah, the father of NCP Central Joint Convenor Mahbub Alam Mahir.

Azizur's hand was broken and he suffered severe injuries in the attack during a clash between local factions of Chhatra Dal and Swechchhasebak Dal on March 30 at Ramganj upzila in Lakshmipur, the statement said.

In another attack on March 24 in Noakhali's Hatia, some BNP activists attacked NCP Joint Chief Coordinator Abdul Hannan Masud during a public meeting, the statement said.

The NCP alleged that BNP leaders and activists in various places across the country were regularly intimidating NCP activists with threats of "taking revenge after seven or eight months".

"It is unclear to the NCP what kind of reality will be created by local BNP men after seven or eight months that will allow them to take revenge," the statement said.