Internal conflict, wrong choice of candidates may cause polls debacle
Grassroots BNP leaders tell Khaleda
Rakib Hasnet Suman
Grassroots level leaders of the ruling BNP yesterday expressed concern that the party may get a drubbing in the next election due to internal feuds and activities of some ministers and lawmakers. At a view-exchange meeting with Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, leaders and workers from Mymensingh south and part of Netrakona suggested that her government contain price hike of essentials and ease the power crisis immediately. They requested her to beware of Jamaat-e-Islami and also cautioned against making wrong decisions in choosing candidates for the next general election. Local lawmakers, presidents and secretaries of district and upazila unit BNP, municipality committees of Mymensingh Sadar, Muktagaccha, Trishal, Bhaluka, Gafargaon, Phulbaria and Dhobaura-Purbadhala attended the meeting held at the Jamuna Guesthouse on Hare Road. BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and other central leaders were also present. Local leaders alleged that the region did not see much development work as former state minister for energy AKM Mosharraf Hossain, president of Mymensingh BNP and minister in charge of the district, did not have good relations with the local lawmakers. "She asked me to work towards improving the party's organisational strength and keep in contact with the central," Mosharraf told the newsmen, coming out of the meeting. "We told her that we will lose the election if internal feuds are not solved immediately," Dhobaura BNP President Fazlul Huq said. Azharul Islam, general secretary of Dhobaura BNP, said, "We told her that price spiral of essentials, if not checked, will lead us to a debacle in the election." The prime minister has assured them of urgent steps to that end, he added. Leaders from the Mymensing-4 constituency alleged that the local lawmaker, who is currently abroad, could not perform properly in the last four and a half years. Meeting sources said Khaleda asked the leaders from Mymensing-6 about the possible outcome in case of a Jamaat leader contesting the election as a four-party candidate from the constituency. Opposing the idea, the local leaders said the party will lose the seat, if the candidate [incumbent lawmaker] is changed, sources said. Khaleda urged her party leaders to work together so that BNP could sweep to power again. She has been holding meetings with grassroots level leaders to have idea of the ground situation and assess suitability of the prospective candidates. On July 8, she had meetings with leaders of Barisal region.
| 
