Intra-party conflicts haunt Sylhet AL

Faction fight gnaws at party discipline

Of late, new factions and lack of a proper leadership are plaguing the Awami League (AL) in Sylhet, with some mid-level leaders flexing their muscles and instigating party workers against the new committees.
This clique of mid-level leaders has grabbed many vital posts in the party. This has disappointed those who were in charge of the party in the district for many years. Besides such grouping, some opposition party man are trying to get involved in AL's politics to avert political harassment.  The AL is the strongest political party in Sylhet, as other parties have become listless after the AL assumed power in the January 5 election last year. The newly formed AL committee has already started to carry out movements to increase their party's strength. However, those who have not managed to obtain an administrative post have started to change their affiliation. Many of them have changed camps in the hope of obtaining a post. The Chattro League holds the power centre in politics in Sylhet. Many AL leaders want to manipulate the Chattro League for their own interests. For many years, four leaders have ruled the AL in Sylhet. They are: Misba Uddin Seraj, Bodor Uddin Ahmed Kamran, ANM. Shofikul Haque and Efthekar Hussain Shamim. But the political situation here is changing fast as Shofikul Haque has fallen ill and Efthekar Hussain Shamim was killed in a road accident.
Recently,  district  AL secretary Shofikur Rahman Chowdhury and city AL secretary Asad Uddin took the position of those two leaders in their absence. Sadar upazila chairman Asfak Ahmed, city AL (organisation) secretary Shofiul Alom Nadel, district AL joint secretary  Nasir Uddin Khan and city councillor Azadur Rahman Azad have come to the forefront of political power play by rewarding their followers with important posts of the Chattro League and Jubo League.  Two ministers Abul Mal Abdul Muhith and Nurul Islam Nahid, however, stay out of such grouping. They never favour any of the factions lest it affects their committed and loyal vote bank. The last council of the district and city AL  was held in Sylhet in 2011 and 2012. Although the present city and district AL committees have already exceeded their respective tenures, the leaders concerned are reluctant to form a new committee. Nasir Uddin khan, joint secretary of the Sylhet district AL, denied having any direct grouping in the AL in Sylhet. When asked, city AL president Bodor Uddin Ahmed Kamran said the party has remained united in the district. "We work together to carry out movements. We're ready to hold party councils with the permission of the central leadership. Twenty-two city ward committee have already been formed," he added.

Intra-party conflicts haunt Sylhet AL

Faction fight gnaws at party discipline

Of late, new factions and lack of a proper leadership are plaguing the Awami League (AL) in Sylhet, with some mid-level leaders flexing their muscles and instigating party workers against the new committees. This clique of mid-level leaders has grabbed many vital posts in the party. This has disappointed those who were in charge of the party in the district for many years. Besides such grouping, some opposition party man are trying to get involved in ALs politics to avert political harassment. The AL is the strongest political party in Sylhet, as other parties have become listless after the AL assumed power in the January 5 election last year. The newly formed AL committee has already started to carry out movements to increase their partys strength. However, those who have not managed to obtain an administrative post have started to change their affiliation. Many of them have changed camps in the hope of obtaining a post. The Chattro League holds the power centre in politics in Sylhet. Many AL leaders want to manipulate the Chattro League for their own interests. For many years, four leaders have ruled the AL in Sylhet. They are: Misba Uddin Seraj, Bodor Uddin Ahmed Kamran, ANM. Shofikul Haque and Efthekar Hussain Shamim. But the political situation here is changing fast as Shofikul Haque has fallen ill and Efthekar Hussain Shamim was killed in a road accident. Recently, district AL secretary Shofikur Rahman Chowdhury and city AL secretary Asad Uddin took the position of those two leaders in their absence. Sadar upazila chairman Asfak Ahmed, city AL (organisation) secretary Shofiul Alom Nadel, district AL joint secretary Nasir Uddin Khan and city councillor Azadur Rahman Azad have come to the forefront of political power play by rewarding their followers with important posts of the Chattro League and Jubo League. Two ministers Abul Mal Abdul Muhith and Nurul Islam Nahid, however, stay out of such grouping. They never favour any of the factions lest it affects their committed and loyal vote bank. The last council of the district and city AL was held in Sylhet in 2011 and 2012. Although the present city and district AL committees have already exceeded their respective tenures, the leaders concerned are reluctant to form a new committee. Nasir Uddin khan, joint secretary of the Sylhet district AL, denied having any direct grouping in the AL in Sylhet. When asked, city AL president Bodor Uddin Ahmed Kamran said the party has remained united in the district. We work together to carry out movements. Were ready to hold party councils with the permission of the central leadership. Twenty-two city ward committee have already been formed, he added.