At one stage, Zahed Ali's supporters vandalised the office of BNP activists loyal to forest and environment secretary Haider Ali, aspiring for alliance ticket to contest from Sherpur-2 constituency (Nalitabari-Nokla) in the coming election.

When contacted over phone yesterday, Haider said he would retire in December next year and may resign from government service if his nomination is ensured. He said people in the area want him to contest from the constituency. He admitted Friday's incident.

Witnesses said supporters of Haidar Ali brought out a procession led by joint secretary of Nalitabari upazila Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) Zahangir Alam from Araiani Bazar at upazila headquarters at around 6:30pm. They carried posters and chanted slogans demanding nomination for Haidar Ali from Sherpur-2 (Nalitabari-Nokla) constituency in the coming election.

They held a meeting at their office in Jail Road area.

Being informed, Whip Zahed Ali's supporters brought out another procession in the upazila headquarters. Angry processionists vandalised the party office of Haidar Ali's supporters at the upazila headquarters, the sources said.

The incident took place when Whip Zahed Ali was inaugurating a pump house of the Department of Public Health and Engineering (DPHE) at Garkanda in the upazila, sources said.

Talking to local newsmen Friday night, JCD leader Zahangir Alam alleged that supporters of Whip Zahed Ali, led by Nalitabari upazila BNP president Nurul Amin vandalised their party office.

He also alleged that BNP workers no more wants Whip Zahed Ali as nominee as he did not do any mentionable development work in the area during his tenure.

On contact, Nalitabari upazila BNP president Nuru Amin admitted that some local BNP leaders and activists vandalised the office of Haider Ali's supporters but he was not involved in it.

"Some people having no contact with people and BNP leaders are trying to create trouble in the party. Whip Zahed Ali Chowdhury actually is an honest, energetic and experienced man. There is no alternative to Zahed Ali in the constituency as he has done a lot of development works in Nalitabari and Nokla," he added.