Khulna city BNP secy may quit

The BNP leaders and activists who took part in the procession apprehend that his decision may split the ruling party's Khulna city chapter.

Manju is expected to send his resignation letter to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia anytime within the next two days if action is not taken against those 'patronising criminals and blackmailing the party'.

The participation of six listed criminals in Friday's rally and procession has sharpened the BNP's internal rift, sources said.

Manju told The Daily Star that he was against the presence of outlaws and anarchists in politics. City BNP President M Nurul Islam MP supported Manju, but could not say who invited the six to the rally.

The six alleged criminals -- Moin Jamadder, Babu, Ashfaqur Rahman Kakan, Saddam, Farid Molla and Shagor -- were found in the four-party alliance rally and procession on Friday. Mayor Shaikh Tayebur Rahman, BNP lawmakers Ali Asgar Lobi and Nurul Islam and Mia Golam Parwar, MP of the Jamaat-e-Islami took part in the rally and procession.

The six managed to survive both the Operation Clean Heart and Operation Spider Web by virtue of their political clout, sources said.

The presence of the criminals in the procession also created panic among the local people.

Both the mayor and Lobi denied having any connection with the criminals. The mayor, however, said he did not quite understand how a politician avowedly opposed to terrorism and lawlessness could maintain links with criminals, apparently finger-pointing at one of his rivals.

BNP chief Khaleda Zia was reportedly told on Saturday by her party men that the six criminals were harboured by Tayebur and Lobi.

Tayebur and Lobi, however, tried to steer clear of the controversy by saying that they had asked police to take drastic action against the criminals.

Khulna Metropolitan Police expressed their ignorance about the presence of the wanted criminals in the rally and the procession.

Saddam is wanted in 11 criminal cases in Khulna and Sonadanga police stations. Farid Molla, who is the general secretary of the BNP unit of ward 21, is known to be an extortionist. He was an accused in CPB leader Ratan Sen murder case. Shagor of West Bania Khamar and Babu of Municipal Tank Road are allegedly linked with outlawed parties. Kakan is president of the BNP unit of ward 19 and is wanted by police for drug trafficking. Moin Jamadder is reportedly linked with an outlawed party.

Moin and Farid Molla, however, denied the charges.