Sylhet BNP factions unite for rally campaign
Two BNP factions of Sylhet have come together, setting their differences aside, to drum up support for the party's divisional rally in the city Saturday (19 November).
The factions, led by the party chairperson's adviser Khandaker Abdul Muktadir and central committee member and Sylhet City Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury, had been seen, until now, on opposing sides of one another in all party activities in recent times.
But the two factions joined hands ahead of the Sylhet rally and campaigned as one to make the programme a success.
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Khandkar Abdul Muktadir has been active since the beginning of the campaign while Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury weighed for the rally campaign soon after returning from the USA earlier this week.
Both of them have been made convenors of two of the six sub-committees formed for organising a successful rally in Sylhet.
On Friday, both the leaders and their followers were seen working together in rally preparation, which was also overseen by a team of top central BNP leaders sent earlier to Sylhet.
Sylhet BNP leaders said they were inspired by the huge response of people in the recent BNP rallies in major cities across the country and they have chosen to keep their differences aside and joined the anti-government movement.
Abdul Ahad Khan Jamal, convener of Sylhet District Swechchasebak Dal, said, "Basically, there is no conflict in the BNP. Being a large party, there is competition for leadership. Despite some minor differences, everyone is now united for the greater interest of the party and the country."
He added that there is no disagreement among any party members in their movement of ousting the current regime-led by the Awami League.
After being elected mayor for the second term, Ariful Haque Chowdhury started to solidify his position in the party causing the distance between him and Muktadir to increase.
In the last national polls Ariful Haque was in favour of senior leader Enam Ahmed Chowdhury even though Muktadir was vying for the BNP nomination from Sylhet-1 constituency. In the end Muktadir secured the party ticket while former bureaucrat Enam Ahmed Chowdhury, failing in his nomination bid, jumped ship to join the Awami League.
Since then, the differences between Muktadir and Arif only increased over time. They even floated different names for positions in the district and metropolitan units of BNP and its affiliated wings.
Even in the recent BNP district part times, the district and metropolitan BNP and its affiliated organisations have been seen giving separate candidates from the two constituencies.
Asked about them working together, Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury also said there is no conflict in the party.
"There is a practice of democracy within the party. So anyone can be a candidate and can suggest candidates. Workers may prefer different leaders. It is not a conflict. And even if there were minor issue, we all set them aside and we are in the field together to make the rally
Khandaker Abdul Muktadir gave a similar response, saying, "There will be disagreements within a big party. That is the beauty of politics. The beauty of democracy."
Venue packed with BNP men a day before rally
Sylhet Government Alia Madrasa ground, the venue of Saturday 's BNP rally in the district city, was swarming with party activists by Friday afternoon, one day before the party's divisional programme.
BNP activists, who arrived in a series of processions after the venue turned packed to the rafters, took position on the nearby Rikabibazar-Chowhatta road causing traffic congestion.
BNP national executive committee member Mizanur Rahman, who led a procession of several hundred motorbikes from Chhatak, Sunamganj, said the transport strike could not keep the BNP men confined indoors.
"Some 10,000 leaders and activists came with me Saturday [Friday]. Many more will join tomorrow morning," he said.
Many who came from far-off districts set up tents on the field for their stay until the rally the next day while the local BNP leaders and activists were busy wrapping up rally preparations including the stage and mike installation at nearby points.
"For the last 13 years, we have done everything facing obstacles and difficulties. You can see that people started coming from Thursday for tomorrow's (Saturday) rally," Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury said earlier on Friday.
"Our demands have now become the demands of the people," he added.
Passengers suffer as bus service halted in Sylhet
Commuters in Sylhet have been suffering since Friday (18 November) morning as long-distance bus service stopped in the city a day before the transport strike was called ahead of BNP's rally in the district.
Although transport owners and labour organisations called the strike on Saturday, bus service, including long-haul buses, remained halted from Friday causing sufferings to the passengers.
Bus owners say that since the transport strike has started in Habiganj and Moulvibazar from Saturday , long-distance buses are not able to leave Sylhet or come to the city.
They, however, said buses are running within the district.
Standing in front of the closed counter of Hanif Paribahan, passenger Sharif Hasan said, I work in Dhaka. I know there is a strike on Saturday, so I came Saturday to go to Dhaka. But I can't get a bus here."
Sharif said that some microbuses are going to Dhaka with passengers but they are overcharging.
General Secretary of Sylhet District Bus Minibus Owners Association Ziaul Kabir Palash said, "Our strike is on Saturday, but the strike has started in Moulvibazar and Habiganj Saturday (Friday). If you want to go to Dhaka and other districts, you have to pass through these two districts. But due to the strike in both places, long-distance buses are not able to operate. However, some buses are running," said.
