Internal conflicts in the ruling Awami League grassroots continue to rise, centring the upcoming Upazila Parishad polls.
The situation turns worse as aspirants want to establish supremacy in their respective areas. As a result, incidents of attack and counter attack are taking place in different areas.
The ruling camp has already announced that it will not allocate the boat symbol to any candidate in the upazila parishad polls.
Under the circumstances, the aspirants of the ruling camp have to contest the polls as independent candidates.
The top brass of the AL has directed the leaders and activists to address internal conflicts, but the grassroots leaders seem to be turning a deaf ear to the directive.
After winning the 12th Parliamentary polls, Awami League president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked the leaders and activists to work unitedly to strengthen the party by forgetting the pain of defeat.
Yet, a division has been appearing among the supporters of the AL-backed candidates and independent candidates.
The cracks are developing fast after the Election Commission’s announcement of the Upazila Parishad polls schedule.
As per the decision, elections to 152 upazilas will be held in the first phase.
Ahead of the polls, internal feuds have already surfaced in many areas.
Leaders of Barishal district say that a higher number of contestants will vie the polls this time as the party will not allocate the boat symbol to anyone.
They will all take to the field to test their popularity, resulting in increasing the internal feud, they say.
AL Banaripara Upazila unit organising secretary Zakir Hossain said at least four candidates are taking preparations to contest the polls in the constituency.
“A grouping has already been created in the party. Many are issuing threats against each other,” he said.
Besides, internal conflict is seen rising in many areas.
Rural Development and Cooperative Division state minister Abdul Wadud was given a civic reception in Rajshahi on March 10. Three incumbent lawmakers and a former MP bitterly criticised AL presidium member and Rajshahi Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman
Liton. Addressing the programme, Rajshahi-1 constituency lawmaker Omar Faruk Chowdhury said Rajshahi was freed from stigma.
“From now on, the Awami League leaders and activists will live keeping their heads high. From today, we will go by the leadership of the state minister Abdul Wadud and establish justice in the Rajshahi district and Rajshahi city unit Awami League,” he said.
Another lawmaker Abul Kalam Azad also slammed Liton and Rajshahi AL unit president Anil Kumar Sarker.
After the programme, Liton told reporters that in the name of reception, creating division in the party was the main motive. “He (Wadud) was included in the cabinet to develop Rajshahi and other parts of the country. But he created grouping in the name of reception,” he said.
In a counter programme on March 21, Liton said the place in which Abdul Wadud was given the reception would be made sacred by reciting holy verses.
Meanwhile, the AL central body has served a show cause notice to Abul Kalam Azad for publicly reprimanding a senior leader of the party.
Central leaders say that the AL is a big organisation. It is natural that there will be differences of opinion among the leaders and activists.
But disciplinary action will be taken against those who go against the directive of the party president, they say.
On March 21, former UP chairman Alamgir Hossian was tortured as he refrained from attending the campaign of Khoksa Upazila chairman aspirant Rahim Khan.
With a view to establishing supremacy, two groups of the AL locked in clash at Ramkantapur Union in Faridpur on March 17. At least 20 people were injured during the clash while some houses were vandalised.
Central leaders say that party president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to sit with the AL central leaders any day before the Eid. These issues may be discussed during the meeting, they said.