BNP-Jamaat infiltrators creating divisions in AL

Awami League President Sheikh Hasina yesterday said divisions have been created within the ruling party because of infiltration by BNP-Jamaat men, and blamed some of her party lawmakers for this.

Those lawmakers are bringing BNP-Jamaat men to the party to strengthen their own cliques. And organisational action will be taken against them, she added. 

Hasina, also the prime minister, made the remarks at a special extended meeting of the AL at the Gono Bhaban yesterday, sources said.

Eight district-level leaders from eight divisions spoke at the meeting on issues like intra-party feuds, organisational weaknesses, infiltration by BNP-Jamaat men and differences between the party leaders and MPs and ministers.

Most of them expressed unhappiness at the formation of grassroots committees by the central leaders, saying BNP-Jamaat men are getting portfolios in those committees as local leaders are left out of the process.

Responding to the allegation, the AL chief admitted that leaders and activists from the BNP, her party's archrival, and also Jamaat-e-Islami have been infiltrating into the party, said meeting sources.

"I have evidence that BNP-Jamaat men, even those accused of torturing and killing my party leaders after the 2001 national election, have infiltrated into the Awami League. Some MPs helped them join the party to strengthen their own circles," Hasina was quoted by a district unit president, present at the meeting, as saying.

Those elements enter the party for personal gains and then become so strong that they eventually elbow out dedicated workers and leaders, she added. 

Sounding a note of warning, the AL chief asked party lawmakers not to allow such bad elements in her party as they are creating divisions.

She also asked the lawmakers to work with party leaders and activists and maintain strong ties with their own constituencies.

According to grassroots leaders, several thousand BNP-Jamaat men may have joined the ruling party since it took office in 2009, apparently to get rid of “politically motivated” cases and avoid police harassment.

From the meeting yesterday, Hasina inaugurated the party's membership From the meeting yesterday, Hasina inaugurated the party's membership collection and renewal programme after seven years renewing her own membership by donating Tk 500 to party fund. The renewal fees, however, is Tk 20.

The party also handed the grassroots leaders its new declaration and constitution, which were amended at the party's 20th triennial council on October 22-23 last year.

From the meeting, the AL also started distributing laptops among party offices across the country.

In her inaugural speech, the AL president mentioned that the grassroots leaders and activities of her party have always kept the organisation vibrant.

"And they always took the right decision at the right time and strengthened the organisation."

Representatives from 77 organisational district units -- presidents, general secretaries, information secretaries, office secretaries and their deputies and publicity and publication secretaries and their deputies -- and all party lawmakers were present at the meeting.

Speaking at a closed-door session, Khulna AL president Sheikh Harun-or-Rashid pointed to the lack of discipline within the party. He demanded stern action against the party men who ignore the party decision and contest election as rebels.

Mymensingh AL President Jahirul Haque spoke on intra-party differences and conflicts within the party, saying those are only for personal gains, not for any ideology.  

Seeking the party president's intervention to resolve the feuds, he also alleged that people like Khandaker Mushtaq have invaded the party at all tiers, said sources.

Rangpur AL General Secretary Rezaul Karim Raju said BNP-Jamaat leaders are even getting AL portfolios. "If this trend is not controlled immediately, tested leaders of the party will be cornered," he was quoted as saying.

He also brought allegations that party lawmakers are busy creating their own circles and trying to bring own men to grassroots committees.

Raju also said party men are “getting scared” following some remarks of AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader and divisions within the party have surfaced because of some of his speeches.

Recently, Awami League leaders have given mixed reactions to Obaidul Quader's remark that when the party would lose power, the AL men would have to be on the run with all the money they have been making.

Sylhet City unit president Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran said MPs and their circles are creating divisions within the party. He also opposed the formation of grassroots committees by the central body.

Chittagong (South) AL President Moslem Uddin pointed out distances between party MPs and leaders and activists and sought Sheikh Hasina's interference in this regard. Without mentioning any name, he said remarks of the party spokesperson are misleading party men.