BNP worried over recent infighting

Recent incidents of intra-party conflicts centring the BNP's initiative of revamping the grassroots leaders and activists have concerned the party's high command, say insiders. 

The party has recently designated 51 central leaders to visit its 78 organisational districts to inject enthusiasm among party activists ahead of the next parliamentary elections. But in a number of districts, some party faithfuls were involved in clashes among themselves.

Longstanding intra-party conflict, absence of district committees and announcement of new committees from the centre are said to be the reasons behind such infightings, according to party leaders and activists.

In some cases, the situation reached such a level that party Chairperson Khaleda Zia had to intervene in resolving the problem, and a few leaders had been expelled from the party for violating party discipline.

According to BNP office, the central leaders have visited 54 organisational districts out of 78 so far, and they saw violence in at least a dozen districts during meetings.

An official of the party's Nayapaltan headquarters alleged that police also foiled the party's meetings in four districts -- Madaripur, Narail, Pirojpur and Kushtia.

He also said the party was yet to get police permission in 18 organisational districts to hold meetings.

Seeking anonymity, a senior BNP leader said, “In many districts, full committee was not announced and in some districts, experienced leaders were ignored. So, the deprived leaders have taken the central leaders visits to the grassroots as an opportunity to express their frustration and anger.”

“We have given a very good impression through the Vision 2030 and at this moment, infighting is a reason to be worried about, and the party should take stern action about this.”

The BNP's Vision 2030 is a forerunner to its electoral manifesto for the next national election due in early 2019.

Despite several attempts, the BNP failed to form all the district committees, said party insiders.

In April this year, the party assigned 51 central leaders to tour its organisational districts and complete the task by May 7. The deadline was extended to May 15, but the party could not finish the job.

On May 2, the meeting of BNP Chittagong north district unit at its Chittagong office was foiled and the following day, similar programme of Chittagong south district unit met the same fate due to infightings. Some 15 people were injured in a clash between two groups of BNP men in Chittagong's Patiya.

On Monday night, Khaleda held a two-and-a-half-hour long meeting with the Chittagong BNP leaders to resolve the intra-party conflict.

A senior leader present in the meeting told The Daily Star that Khaleda vented her anger about the incidents and said that committees of the two units of the port city would be announced from the centre.

In a press release yesterday, the BNP expelled two leaders of the units for violating party discipline and another was warned.

On May 14, a meeting of Dhaka district unit was suspended as its leaders were locked into a clash in presence of central BNP leaders over something party's senior leader Amanullah Aman said in his speech.

Khaleda later called Aman and other leaders of the unit and asked them to solve the problem.

Besides, there was violence during the meetings of BNP in Joypurhat, Jhenidah, Barisal and Rajshahi.

Talking to The Daily Star on Tuesday, Mohammad Shahjahan, vice-chairman of the BNP, said in most of the places, the meetings ended peacefully. In some districts, clashes happened and it was normal for a large political party like the BNP.

"It is a political culture in Bangladesh that leaders want to demonstrate their popularity before the central leaders, and this sometimes creates problems. There is a competition among leaders. So, this might happen. We are trying to get out of this situation, and it will take some time,” he said.

He also said but the party was monitoring all those incidents and taking prompt action. Party chief Khaleda had already talked to the leaders of Chittagong city and Dhaka district units.

"If it is found that an individual creates a chaotic situation, action will be taken against them,” he added.