DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES’ CONFERENCES

BNP misses deadline

Although the deadline set by the party high command for holding district representatives’ conferences has expired, the BNP is grappling with issues such as internal feud as multiple groups of local units want to maintain supremacy in respective areas despite the formation of new committees. According to party sources, the party leadership had verbally extended the deadline by eight days till May 15 for holding the conferences. However, at least 18 out of 78 organisational districts failed to hold conferences at respective areas. Earlier, the 51 teams comprising central leaders could hold representatives’ conferences only in less than half of the total districts within the set deadline of May 7. Later, the BNP high command extended the cut-off date till May 15.
In the meantime, the BNP leaders and activists had locked in clashes and chase and counter chases in several districts, including Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chittagong north and south, Jenaidah, and Joypurhat injuring many leaders and activists. The prime reason behind these melees was to display dominance in respective areas.
Some senior leaders alleged that holding of representatives’ conferences was hampered as the local administrations had resorted to dilly-dallying to give permission and police created obstructions in many districts.
Many leaders expressed hopes that the conference in rest of the organisational districts would be completed before the Eid-ul-Fitr.
BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain admitted that conferences could not be held in some districts and said that there are some groupings in the party, what he termed as normal in a big party like the BNP.
He, however, said conferences were being held in districts and hoped that the task would be completed by the end of Ramadan.
Some districts could not hold their conferences in time as they sought time to complete it due to delay in getting permission from the administration, he said.
The former minister said he personally supervised conferences in three districts-- Chittagong north, south and in Chittagong city, which he was entrusted with.  
Replying to a question, the veteran leader said he has would submit written reports on the three districts to the party chairperson soon.
He said the conferences have made the grassroots level leaders and workers rejuvenated and enthusiastic as the party is carrying out the programme targeting its ‘next movement’ and the general election.
Another standing committee member Amir
Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said it is true that the district-level representatives’ conference could not be complete as there is no congenial atmosphere in the country.
“We have been obstructed in different places as there is an undemocratic environment prevailing in the country,” he added.
BNP assistant office secretary Taiful Islam Tipu said conferences have already been completed in almost 60 districts. “I think the conference in the rest of the districts would be completed by this month,” he said.
BNP vice-chairman Mohammed Shajahan said conferences have been successfully completed in around 55 organisational districts.
He also acknowledged that some five districts faced some problems in holding the conferences.
Shajahan alleged that the police have created obstructions in holding the conferences in different districts including Madaripur and Pirojpur.
He said many districts sought time as they are not getting permission of the administration and leaders of some district units are on the run.

 

DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES CONFERENCES

BNP misses deadline

Although the deadline set by the party high command for holding district representatives conferences has expired, the BNP is grappling with issues such as internal feud as multiple groups of local units want to maintain supremacy in respective areas despite the formation of new committees. According to party sources, the party leadership had verbally extended the deadline by eight days till May 15 for holding the conferences. However, at least 18 out of 78 organisational districts failed to hold conferences at respective areas. Earlier, the 51 teams comprising central leaders could hold representatives conferences only in less than half of the total districts within the set deadline of May 7. Later, the BNP high command extended the cut-off date till May 15. In the meantime, the BNP leaders and activists had locked in clashes and chase and counter chases in several districts, including Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chittagong north and south, Jenaidah, and Joypurhat injuring many leaders and activists. The prime reason behind these melees was to display dominance in respective areas. Some senior leaders alleged that holding of representatives conferences was hampered as the local administrations had resorted to dilly-dallying to give permission and police created obstructions in many districts. Many leaders expressed hopes that the conference in rest of the organisational districts would be completed before the Eid-ul-Fitr. BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain admitted that conferences could not be held in some districts and said that there are some groupings in the party, what he termed as normal in a big party like the BNP. He, however, said conferences were being held in districts and hoped that the task would be completed by the end of Ramadan. Some districts could not hold their conferences in time as they sought time to complete it due to delay in getting permission from the administration, he said. The former minister said he personally supervised conferences in three districts-- Chittagong north, south and in Chittagong city, which he was entrusted with. Replying to a question, the veteran leader said he has would submit written reports on the three districts to the party chairperson soon. He said the conferences have made the grassroots level leaders and workers rejuvenated and enthusiastic as the party is carrying out the programme targeting its next movement and the general election. Another standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said it is true that the district-level representatives conference could not be complete as there is no congenial atmosphere in the country. We have been obstructed in different places as there is an undemocratic environment prevailing in the country, he added. BNP assistant office secretary Taiful Islam Tipu said conferences have already been completed in almost 60 districts. I think the conference in the rest of the districts would be completed by this month, he said. BNP vice-chairman Mohammed Shajahan said conferences have been successfully completed in around 55 organisational districts. He also acknowledged that some five districts faced some problems in holding the conferences. Shajahan alleged that the police have created obstructions in holding the conferences in different districts including Madaripur and Pirojpur. He said many districts sought time as they are not getting permission of the administration and leaders of some district units are on the run.