AL candidate Khondokar Asaduzzaman left the area after his defeat to BNP candidate Abdus Salam Pintu by 2,274 votes in the last election in 2001.

He remained absent in all party programmes in Bhuapur and Gopalpur in last five years. It created a distance between him and party activists. Although he resumed communication with the party men and participating in different party programmes it will be tough for him to regain party control because of bitter intra-party feud.

After the parliament election in 2001, the ruling party men attacked leaders and activists of AL in Bhuapur and Gopalpur. As Asaduzzaman failed to take effective steps to protect the party men, his nephew Khondokar Ashrafu-zzaman Smrity, organising secretary of AL, Tangail district unit steered the party at that time.

The situation gave rise to hostility between the uncle (Khondokar Asaduzzaman) and nephew (Khondokar Ashrafuzzaman Smrity). At one stage the hostility became so acute that the party had to arrange a compromise meeting in Dhaka.

Asaduzzaman and Ashrafu-zzaman reached an understanding, but in the mean time, Rafiqul Islam Manju, a high official of Acme Group of Industries, sprang up as their competitor in Bhuapur.

The situation turned more critical when a section of the leaders and activists of AL in Bhuapur and Gopalpur upazilas backed Rafiqul Islam Manju. The party wrangle assumed a new form with both groups holding procession and rallies-counter rallies in the areas.

Two separate processions and rallies of the both groups were held in Bhuapur on July 27. Besides, the leaders and activists of both groups locked in clashes over two separate programmes in Bhuapur on August 11. At least 10 leaders and activists were injured in the clashes.

On the day after the incident, the supporters of Asaduzzaman and Rafiqul Islam Manju clashed again centering the public meeting, called by Asaduzzaman at Gobindashi High School ground in Bhuapur. The administration imposed Section 144 on the meeting venue to avoid further clashes.

On the other hand, Abu Syed, president of Dhopakandi union unit of Jubo League (JL) in Gopalpur, was hacked to death by some unidentified people on August 15. Although a murder case was filed with Gopalpur Police Station against several BNP men, insiders believe the killing was a sequel to the party infighting.

Some leaders of Gopalpur and Bhuapur upazila units of AL while talking to this correspondent said the AL started losing its grips on the upazilas after Khondokar Asaduzzaman left the area and Rafiqul Islam Manju replaced him after the parliament election in 2001.

The AL central leaders are now struggling to remove the wrangle between Khondokar Asaduzzaman and Rafiqul Islam Manju for regaining the seat, party sources said.