AL mulls action against Hazari's men in Feni

The decision to take disciplinary action, including expulsion from the party, is expected to be taken at a meeting of the AL Central Working Committee (ALCWC) at the Dhanmondi office of the party today.

Followers of Joynal Hazari attacked leaders and workers of the party during an extended meeting of the Feni district unit of the Awami League on Saturday last. Central party leaders including General Secretary Abdul Jalil and Organising Secretary Saber Hossain Chow-dhury had to return to Dhaka abandoning the meeting.

Earlier, the decision to rid the party of leaders having a 'godfather' image was taken at a meeting of the AL secretariat on March 28.

That meeting discussed in detail how the 'godfather' image of people like Joynal Hazari of Feni, Shamim Osman of Narayanganj, Abu Taher of Laxmipur and Abul Hasnat Abdullah of Barisal had contributed to the party's poor showing in the October 2001 polls.

Within four days of that meeting the party high command removed Joynal Hazari from the post of general secretary of Feni district AL.

Hazari has reportedly been out of the country for the last 20 months.