Shamsher Mobin�s sudden resignation fuels rumour

In a sudden move, BNP vice-chairman Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury has resigned from the party, and announced his retirement from politics citing "poor health," triggering multi-dimensional speculations in political circles, as many think it may be the prelude to defections of some senior party leaders.
Rumours also ran high that Chowdhury’s sudden resignation resulted from government pressure.
 The former diplomat-turned-politician said the decision to resign from the party was not the result of any rift between him and the party leadership. But at the same time mentioned that the present BNP leadership had deviated from the ideals of Ziaur Rahman.
“I have decided to retire from politics because of my present health condition and on personal grounds,” Chowdhury, a key spin-doctor for the party in diplomatic circles, said in his resignation letter sent to BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia. The letter was sent to Khaleda Zia through the party's acting secretary general, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. It reached Alamgir on Wednesday evening.
His resignation takes place at a moment when the party that ruled the country for over 13 years is passing through its worst phase since it was founded by former President Ziaur Rahman in 1979. It may be mentioned that BNP chief Khaleda Zia is now in London for treatment.
“As I am retiring from politics, I am also resigning from all posts of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP),” he said in his resignation letter.
Talking to reporters, Chowdhury, who was known to be close to the party’s top leadership, said yesterday (Thursday) that he did not resign under pressure. “I am retiring voluntarily because of illness,” he added.
Sources said Chowdhury is suffering from eye and prostrate problems and needs to go abroad for treatment. He has applied for renewal of his passport but did not get it. He will leave as soon as he gets the renewed passport, sources said.
He also rejected the possibility of joining another political party.
 It mentioned that he was severely wounded during the 1971 Liberation War. For this, he had to undergo various kinds of treatment at home and abroad, and now his health has deteriorated.
 “As a freedom fighter, my endeavour for the welfare of the country and its people will continue, upholding the values of the Liberation War despite my physical limitation,” he said in his resignation  letter.
Replying to a question, he said he hoped that the BNP would be able to turn around if it maintained the proper course in politics.
Many believe that recently Chwodhury’s activity came under scrutiny of BNP senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman, the party’s key policy-maker and the eldest son of Khaleda.

According to a leaked telephone conversation between Tarique Rahman and Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury that took place in January this year, Tarique told Chowdhury that a group within the party was reportedly maintaining contacts with the ruling Awami League and his (Chowdhury) name was also among them.
This group was trying to put a break on the BNP’s indefinite blockade being observed during that period which, according to Tarique, would be suicidal for the party.
During the conversation, Tarique warned that those suggesting a pause in the movement would be responsible for possible loss of lives of party activists.
When contacted, BNP spokesperson Dr Asaduzzaman Ripon told The Independent that he came to know about the resignation of Chowdhury from the media.
“No such resignation letter has reached our office yet,” he said at 4:30pm yesterday. He, however, said he came to know that Chowdhury was ill and prayed for his early recovery.
The gallantry award winning freedom fighter was an Army Lieutenant in 1971. Later, he was deputed to the foreign ministry after the Liberation War. He served as foreign secretary between 2001 and 2005 during the BNP-Jamaat-led alliance government.
He joined the BNP in 2008 after being the Bangladesh envoy to the US for two years. He was made a vice-chairman after the BNP’s last national council in 2009. He was arrested in early 2015 during the BNP-led alliance’s indefinite blockade and later released on bail.
He was arrested in a case of sabotage during the BNP-led 20-party’s agitation early this year against the January 5 elections that the party had boycotted.
Chowdhury questioned how much of Ziaur Rahman’s politics was there in the present BNP, and observed that there had been degeneration of politics in the country which was not desirable. He mentioned that after he was released form jail on bail, he moved away from politics due to his illness. “I will not comment on what is happening within the BNP as I am not aware of it,” he added.
He said the party’s acting secretary general received his letter saying he was sad about it. “I have requested him to send the letter to the chairperson,” he added.
Asked what he would do now, he said he would pass his time studying and writing.
To another question, he said people want healthy politics and are against the politics of violence and repression.
Responding to a question, he said his departure form the BNP would not affect the party as it is a large organisation.
BNP Assistant Office Secretary Saiful Islam Titu said seven cases are currently pending against the former foreign secretary.
Insiders said Chowdhury has tendered resignation out of frustration as he felt cornered in the party. They also alleged that he was coming under increasing pressure from the government to quit politics.
BNP Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan told reporters that Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury has resigned due to his illness and hoped that he would be with the party’ struggle for democracy.
He mentioned that it was a difficult time for the former diplomat while in prison and that he has become mostly inactive in the party after getting released on bail.
Addressing a function at the Institute of Engineers, Bangladesh, BNP Standing Committee Member Goyeswar Chandra Roy said people join politics on their own will and also leave accordingly. He hoped that Chowdhury would remain in touch with the BNP.
UK BNP President MA Mailque, who also came from the same area of Sylhet where Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury has his home, said Chowdhury should not have quit the party and politics.
“We expected him to be with the BNP at this critical moment. Party leaders and activists may get frustrated at his departure. But his resignation may harm him more and have little impact on the party,” he said.

 

Shamsher Mobin�s sudden resignation fuels rumour

In a sudden move, BNP vice-chairman Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury has resigned from the party, and announced his retirement from politics citing poor health, triggering multi-dimensional speculations in political circles, as many think it may be the prelude to defections of some senior party leaders. Rumours also ran high that Chowdhurys sudden resignation resulted from government pressure. The former diplomat-turned-politician said the decision to resign from the party was not the result of any rift between him and the party leadership. But at the same time mentioned that the present BNP leadership had deviated from the ideals of Ziaur Rahman. I have decided to retire from politics because of my present health condition and on personal grounds, Chowdhury, a key spin-doctor for the party in diplomatic circles, said in his resignation letter sent to BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia. The letter was sent to Khaleda Zia through the partys acting secretary general, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. It reached Alamgir on Wednesday evening. His resignation takes place at a moment when the party that ruled the country for over 13 years is passing through its worst phase since it was founded by former President Ziaur Rahman in 1979. It may be mentioned that BNP chief Khaleda Zia is now in London for treatment. As I am retiring from politics, I am also resigning from all posts of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), he said in his resignation letter. Talking to reporters, Chowdhury, who was known to be close to the partys top leadership, said yesterday (Thursday) that he did not resign under pressure. I am retiring voluntarily because of illness, he added. Sources said Chowdhury is suffering from eye and prostrate problems and needs to go abroad for treatment. He has applied for renewal of his passport but did not get it. He will leave as soon as he gets the renewed passport, sources said. He also rejected the possibility of joining another political party. It mentioned that he was severely wounded during the 1971 Liberation War. For this, he had to undergo various kinds of treatment at home and abroad, and now his health has deteriorated. As a freedom fighter, my endeavour for the welfare of the country and its people will continue, upholding the values of the Liberation War despite my physical limitation, he said in his resignation letter. Replying to a question, he said he hoped that the BNP would be able to turn around if it maintained the proper course in politics. Many believe that recently Chwodhurys activity came under scrutiny of BNP senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman, the partys key policy-maker and the eldest son of Khaleda. According to a leaked telephone conversation between Tarique Rahman and Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury that took place in January this year, Tarique told Chowdhury that a group within the party was reportedly maintaining contacts with the ruling Awami League and his (Chowdhury) name was also among them. This group was trying to put a break on the BNPs indefinite blockade being observed during that period which, according to Tarique, would be suicidal for the party. During the conversation, Tarique warned that those suggesting a pause in the movement would be responsible for possible loss of lives of party activists. When contacted, BNP spokesperson Dr Asaduzzaman Ripon told The Independent that he came to know about the resignation of Chowdhury from the media. No such resignation letter has reached our office yet, he said at 4:30pm yesterday. He, however, said he came to know that Chowdhury was ill and prayed for his early recovery. The gallantry award winning freedom fighter was an Army Lieutenant in 1971. Later, he was deputed to the foreign ministry after the Liberation War. He served as foreign secretary between 2001 and 2005 during the BNP-Jamaat-led alliance government. He joined the BNP in 2008 after being the Bangladesh envoy to the US for two years. He was made a vice-chairman after the BNPs last national council in 2009. He was arrested in early 2015 during the BNP-led alliances indefinite blockade and later released on bail. He was arrested in a case of sabotage during the BNP-led 20-partys agitation early this year against the January 5 elections that the party had boycotted. Chowdhury questioned how much of Ziaur Rahmans politics was there in the present BNP, and observed that there had been degeneration of politics in the country which was not desirable. He mentioned that after he was released form jail on bail, he moved away from politics due to his illness. I will not comment on what is happening within the BNP as I am not aware of it, he added. He said the partys acting secretary general received his letter saying he was sad about it. I have requested him to send the letter to the chairperson, he added. Asked what he would do now, he said he would pass his time studying and writing. To another question, he said people want healthy politics and are against the politics of violence and repression. Responding to a question, he said his departure form the BNP would not affect the party as it is a large organisation. BNP Assistant Office Secretary Saiful Islam Titu said seven cases are currently pending against the former foreign secretary. Insiders said Chowdhury has tendered resignation out of frustration as he felt cornered in the party. They also alleged that he was coming under increasing pressure from the government to quit politics. BNP Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan told reporters that Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury has resigned due to his illness and hoped that he would be with the party struggle for democracy. He mentioned that it was a difficult time for the former diplomat while in prison and that he has become mostly inactive in the party after getting released on bail. Addressing a function at the Institute of Engineers, Bangladesh, BNP Standing Committee Member Goyeswar Chandra Roy said people join politics on their own will and also leave accordingly. He hoped that Chowdhury would remain in touch with the BNP. UK BNP President MA Mailque, who also came from the same area of Sylhet where Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury has his home, said Chowdhury should not have quit the party and politics. We expected him to be with the BNP at this critical moment. Party leaders and activists may get frustrated at his departure. But his resignation may harm him more and have little impact on the party, he said.