Party sources said they boycotted the meeting allegedly due to a row over who would be the BNP candidate from Pakundia-Hosseinpur constituency in the next parliamentary election.

While contacted, Pakundia BNP President Edris Ali Bhuyan and Secretary Advocate Jalal Uddin Ahmed said they were not invited to the meeting.

Party sources said the Education Minister wants Dhaka city BNP Secretary Abdus Salam to be the candidate. Abdus Salam and film actor Dipzol also attended the minister's public meeting.

But local leaders want Pakundia thana BNP Secretary Advocate Jalal Uddin Ahmed to be the candidate. They also said Jalal Uddin has a strong footing in the area.

Addressing the meeting, Dr. Osman Faruq introduced Abdus Slam as the "guardian of Pakundia and Hussainpur".

The sources said publicity for the meeting was made through posters and leaflets where names of Pakundia thana BNP president and secretary were also printed.

Tension mounted in Pakundia since Friday evening after Osman loyalists brought out a procession to drum up support for the meeting.