They will resist Nitai Roy if he is nominated again for Magura-1 because he is not a man from the constituency, the BNP leaders said at a joint press conference held at Magura press club.

A statement signed by the 12 BNP leaders was read out at the press conference held under the banner of 'Nationalist Force in Magura'. Munshi Ali Tarek, youth affairs secretary of Magura BNP, convened the press conference as coordinator of the newly formed body.

Eleven of the 12 nomination seekers were present at the press conference. They are central chairman of Zia Parishad Kabir Murad, former central leader of Jatiyotadadi Chhattra Dal Monwar Hossain Khan, former chairman of Magura municipality Iqbal Akhter Khan Kafur, Brig Gen (Rtd.) Masudur Rahman Khan, retired engineer AN Kamaluddin Mustafa, former general secretary of district BNP Ahmed Hossain, former president of Sadar upazila BNP Kazi Abdul Aala, district BNP vice-president Nazimuddin Ahmed, convener of pourosava BNP Mokaddes Hossain, district BNP organising secretary Akhter Hossain and Mohammad Ali.

Another nomination seeker, MA Ahad Liton, who signed the statement was not present at the press conference moderated by Ali Tarek. All the 11 nomination seekers spoke.

They also said they would not accept any candidate from outside the constituency.

Former miniser in Ershad government now a central BNP leader, advocate Nitai Roy Chowdhury is a voter from Magura-2 constituency (comprising Mohammadpur and Shalikha upazilas and four unions of Magura Sadar upazila).

He was nominated in 2001 election as 4-party alliance candidate from Magura-1 constituency (comprising Magura sadar and Sreepur upazila).

His nomination frustrated the BNP rank and file in the area and the alliance nominee was defeated by Awami League (AL) candidate MS Akbar, said Mokaddes Hossain at the press conference.

Nitai Roy failed in the last election because party men were not happy with him as he was not a voter from Magura-1 constituency' said Mohammad Ali.

"This time BNP leaders and activists will resist any party nominee outside the constituency" said Akhter Hossain.

Contacted over cell phone, Nitai Roy Chowdhury claimed himself the fittest man to get nomination from Magura-1.

"As the parliamentary board of the party (BNP) is the final authority to nominate a candidate, I think announcement of any body's candidature right now is violaion of party discipline. I am always ready to obey the party decision".

He however said, "I will seek nomination from both the constituencies (Magura-1 and Magura-2)".

Magura-1 constituency comprise Magura Sadar and Sreepur upazilas. But both BNP units are now united against Nitai Roy, party sources said.

On March 5, rival party men in Sreepur upazila at a meeting declared Nitai Roy 'unwanted' in the upazila for his alleged anti-party activities and burnt his effigy.