The convening committee of Barisal Mahanagara BNP was finally declared dissolved last Thursday late night. Two and a half years ago, this convening committee was formed with the opposition of Mojibur Rahman Sarwar, who was headed by the long-time president of the metropolis. As a result, debates and various conflicts were going on with this committee from the beginning.
Due to the conflict, the party’s programs often saw demonstrations against the leaders and clashes among themselves. Allegations of making leaders in exchange for money were also raised. Especially, the leaders of the convening committee faced opposition from the beginning because the followers of Mujibur Rahman Sarwar were not kept in this committee. Later, the leaders of the convening committee also got into conflict among themselves. As a result, the politics of BNP in Barisal is at a standstill. The same situation was going on in the organs and affiliated organizations.
BNP Central Joint Secretary General Mujibur Rahman Sarwar has been the president of Barisal metropolis for a long time, so he still has a strong position among the party’s grassroots leaders and workers. He was the first Mayor of Barisal City Corporation and a four-time Member of Parliament from Sadar Constituency. He also served as the whip of the National Parliament. On November 3, 2021, after he (Sarowar) was removed from the post of Mahanagar, Moniruzzaman Khan alias Farooq was appointed as convener, Ali Haider alias Babul as joint convener number 1 and Mir Zahidul Kabir as member secretary. Then on January 22, 2022, the full convening committee of 41 members was approved. Among the 171 members of the previous committee, none of the important leaders were included. At least 31 leaders of the defunct committee raised objections before approving the 41-member convening committee. They submitted a written complaint to BNP Acting Chairman Tariq Rahman. But their application was not taken into account.
On March 11, 2022, full committee of 30 wards of City Corporation was dissolved amid conflict and controversy over the new convening committee of the metropolitan BNP. All 30 committee presidents and general secretaries were followers of Mujibur Rahman Sarwar. As a result, the politics of the metropolis, Mujibur Rahman Sarwar and his followers-leaders-activists were completely cornered. However, these deprived leaders-activists united and held several domestic events to become active in politics again, which caused headaches for the Metropolitan Convening Committee.
Barisal Metropolitan Committee was abolished in such a situation late last night. This Friday morning, when the news of the dissolution of the committee spread, various discussions started about it. Rumors arise, then is the influence of Mujibur Rahman Sarwar re-establishing in the politics of Barisal Mahanagar BNP?
Talking to the leaders of the dissolved convening committee, it is known that none of the leaders knew beforehand that the committee would be dissolved.
Zahidur Rahman, a member of the dissolved committee and the responsible leader of the department, told Prothom Alo, ‘Suddenly, the convening committee was dissolved without informing anyone. Even we are all in the dark about when the new committee will be made.
Meanwhile, the leaders were surprised by the news of the sudden dissolution of the committee. Many are not getting any information even after contacting the central leaders. No one is getting any instructions about when the committee will be formed again and there will be a convening committee again, or a full committee.
Mir Jahidul Kabir, member secretary of the abolished committee, told Prothom Alo, ‘We did not know about the abolition of the committee beforehand. However, the three-month convening committee has passed more than two-and-a-half years. So it has been abolished. It seems to be a normal process.’
According to party sources, the disbanded committee convener Moniruzzaman Khan and member secretary Mir Zahidul Kabir were in conflict with joint convener Zia Uddin Sikder. Central BNP organizing secretary Bilkis Akhter Jahan Shirin and co-organizing secretary Akon Quddusur Rahman were on behalf of Ziauddin Sikder. As a result, the relationship between Bilkis Akhtar Jahan and Moniruzzaman Khan and Mir Zahidul Kabir deteriorated. In such a situation, the relationship between these two leaders improved with Mujibur Rahman Sarwar, who was cornered.
It is believed that this conflict is behind the sudden dissolution of the committee. Bilkis Akhtar Jahan and Akan Quddusur Rahman wanted to bring their followers along with Ziauddin Sikdar to the leadership to assert their authority in the metropolis.
However, Bilkis Akhtar Jahan denied this and told Prothom Alo that it is part of the party’s restructuring process. Apart from this, Dhaka Metropolitan North and South and Chittagong Metropolitan Committees have also been abolished. Now acting chairman of the party Tariq Rahman will decide.
Sarwar wants coordination
After the dissolution of the committee, the leaders following Mujibur Rahman Sarwar became very active. They were angry that they had been deprived of their post for so long. They were not invited to party functions, they did not even come. But after the dissolution of the committee last night, they are much more excited. They want a committee to be formed in coordination with everyone to bring back the old strong organizational status of BNP in Barisal.
Anwarul Haque Tarin, the former joint general secretary of the metropolitan BNP, who is known as a follower of Mujibur Rahman Sarwar, said, ‘We risked our lives and turned Barisal metropolis into a fortress of BNP. But we have been isolated from the party for two and a half years. In this, the politics of BNP in Barisal has gone to the verge of destruction. We want to understand this situation and here is a strong committee direction center.
Many leaders are in favor of full committee in Barisal to solve this deadlock of the party. In that case, they do not see the option of coordination. The deposed leaders and activists have decided to hold a sit-in program in front of the BNP office in the city today at 7:30 pm to demand a full-fledged committee.
When asked, Mojibur Rahman Sarwar told Prothom Alo, ‘I think that abolishing the committee is part of the political process. Now there can be a full committee and also a convening committee. But whatever, it has to be done in coordination with everyone. Because, earlier, when the convening committee was leading the movement-struggle, a lot of damage was done. Leadership is not created.
Referring to Bilkis Akhter Jahan, Mujibur Rahman Sarwar said, ‘They have formed a quorum, I have heard it. Recently, in an event in the presence of central leaders, there was a fight between the two sides. It is very harmful for the party.’