Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam today said more BNP leaders may follow Shamsher M Chowdhury and quit due to a rift between Khaleda-Tareque and several top leaders.

Sylhet district AL General Secretary Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury quoted Syed Ashraf as saying after the public administration minister arrived at Sylhet from London.

Ashraf reached Sylhet Osmani International Airport around 10:20am, where district AL leaders and activists paid a courtesy visit to the senior leader. After around an hour stay, Ashraf left for Dhaka.

“There is a tension within BNP as a cold war is going on between its leadership and top leaders,” Ashraf was quoted by Shafiqur Rahman.

BNP vice-chairman and former diplomat Shamsher M Chowdhury resigned from the party citing health reasons on October 28.

But party sources said he was “disappointed and upset” with the party high-ups, particularly with Tarique Rahman for his “undue” interference in party decisions in recent months.