Minu Rajshahi city BNP chief

Councillors of four thana BNP units in the city formally declared Minu city unit president yesterday evening.

Former BNP lawmaker Azizur Rahman and Tanore upazila President Shish Mohammad were made president and general secretary of the district unit at the council. Sources said the selection was pre-determined.

The Rajshahi district has five BNP lawmakers, but only Post and Telecommunication Minister Aminul Haque attended the council as the special guest and Rajshahi City Corporation Mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu MP presided.

The council was held after 10 years at Loknath School premises in the city. Health and Family Welfare Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain attended the council as the chief guest.

Political aides of the three absentee BNP lawmakers -- Kabir Hossain MP, Nadim Mustafa MP and Abu Hena MP -- said the lawmakers skipped the council apprehending that their men would be neglected in the council.

Kabir Hossain told The Daily Star he had earlier termed the council 'illegal' and said the council should not have taken place during the current floods.

He also said none invited him to attend the council.

Nadim Mustafa said he absented due to illness, but he noted that the council might be 'partisan'.

Abu Hena could not be contacted.

Four cases challenging four such units of Boalia, Rajpara, Motihar and Shah Mokhdum thanas in the city were on trial at a senior assistant judge's court in Rajshahi.