Comments on Bangabandhu: AL serves mayor Zahangir show-cause notice
The Awami League central committee yesterday issued a show-cause notice on Gazipur City Corporation Mayor Mohammad Zahangir Alam over his controversial comments on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the number of martyred freedom fighters.
The notice was undersigned by Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, said Gazipur City AL President Md Azmat Ullah Khan.
Mayor Zahangir, also Gazipur metropolitan unit Awami League general secretary, has been asked by the party to submit his explanation within 15 days.
Meanwhile, Zahangir's comments caused a war of words between Obaidul Quader and AL central committee member Iqbal Hossain Opu at Sheikh Hasina's Dhanmondi office on Saturday night, insiders told The Daily Star yesterday.
The Gazipur mayor said he will reply to the notice on time and accept the party president's decision.
Zahangir termed the allegations a conspiracy against him ahead of the Gazipur mayoral elections, saying his political opponents and some conspirators were spreading propaganda against him.
Recently, Zahangir at a programme made some comments about Bangabandhu and questioned the actual number of martyred freedom fighters, and the video of the comments went viral.
Amid protests from party men, Zahangir termed the video's content "false and fabricated".
In a video statement on September 22, he also claimed that his rivals edited the contents of the video and released it on social media to make him, his party and the government appear "questionable".
Tensions within the party became obvious on September 24, when the mayor's supporters and opponents demonstrated by blocking the highway near Board Bazar.
Since then, party supporters of the rival groups have been staging protests and counter-protests in the city.
PROTESTS AGAINST GAZIPUR MAYOR
A group of AL men yesterday demonstrated and blockaded highways for hours demanding removal of Gazipur Mayor Zahangir from his post. They also demanded that Zahangir be expelled from the AL.
They demonstrated on Tongi Station Road, and in Cherag Ali, Chandona Intersection and Rajbari Road areas.
They blockaded the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway for around two hours to press home their demands.
Earlier yesterday, a section of journalists also formed human chain around 11:00am in front of the deputy commissioner's (DC's) office in Gazipur to press home the same demands.
AL LEADERS' WAR OF WORDS
On Saturday, like any other day, several AL central leaders including Presidium Member Matia Chowdhury, Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Freedom Fighter Affairs Secretary Mrinal Kanti Das, Organising Secretary Afzal Hossain, central committee member Iqbal Hossain Opu and Awal Shamim were present at AL President Sheikh Hasina's Dhanmondi office.
Party insiders said tensions rose once Obaidul Quader entered the office.
The sources said when Quader entered in the room, Iqbal Hossain Opu wanted to know why the AL general secretary was not taking action against the Gazipur mayor following his derogatory remarks on Bangabandhu and freedom fighters.
"Quader bhai, you helped Zahangir get elected and now you are not taking any action against him," an AL leader who was present there quoted Opu as saying.
In reply, Quader asked Opu how he became MP from Shariatpur-1 in the last election. Then, both angrily and loudly questioned the other's popularity in their respective constituencies.
The other leaders present at the time tried to bring the situation under control and eventually, the duo left the party office.
Wishing anonymity, several AL leaders said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had expressed disappointment over the heated argument at her political office.
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