Cracks at grassroots Awami League

Although there are nine months left for the 12th National Assembly elections, the ruling Awami League is now the enemy of themselves in the fight for dominance, inter-party conflicts and power struggles even the party is well structured in grassroots level but seems to have lost control even over the cooperative and fraternal organizations.

Party leaders and workers are holding a press conference against the MPs. At the end of the current term of the government, the upazila-district leaders and their supporters are involved in the conflict. Due to this organizational activities are not being celebrated in unity.

Conflict increasing in grassroots as 12th National Assembly election is approaching. Political analysts said that if this situation continues, the ruling party will have to pay a heavy price. They have called upon the party leaders and workers to take the reins now.

However, the leaders of the policy-making level of Awami League said that even though there is competition in Awami League, they are vigilant so that the conflict does not become big.

Awami League Presidium Member Dr Mustafa Jalal Mohiuddin told Bangladesh Pratidin, “There are more than one group in the world where there are three Bengalis. Conflicts start from competition in politics. So it is impossible to be completely conflict-free.”

“But we are keeping an eye on it so that it does not take a terrible shape, does not cause chaos. I am working under the instructions of the party president. Organizational action will be taken against those who take political competition to revenge,” he added.

Awami League leaders at the grassroots level said that currently some MPs think they are kings of their area. Party leaders and workers are being attacked and prosecuted only when they oppose or disagree.

Especially in more than half a hundred places where the party MP versus the upazila chairman is facing each other. Incidents like clashes and shootings are also happening. The issue has also come to the table of party president Sheikh Hasina. Senior leaders of Awami League said that she expressed her surprise after seeing the image of grassroots level conflict.

Awami League's organizing secretary BM Mozammel Haque told Bangladesh Pratidin, “Awami League is a democratic party. There will be competition in this party. But there is no opportunity to take it to revenge.”

Idris Sardar, Vice President of Barisal's Uzirpur Upazila Awami League, was attacked by party leaders and workers in front of the MP when he came to attend the Independence Day function. This incident happened on Sunday afternoon. Idris exchanged words with local MP Shah Alam in front of the Upazila Parishad meeting room.

At that time, Upazila Awami League Vice President and former Upazila Chairman Hafizur Rahman Iqbal taunted him. When he protested, they got into an argument. At one point, Iqbal's followers attacked him in front of the MP. Accused Hafizur Rahman Iqbal is a follower of MP Shahe Alam. In the last Union Parishad election, Iqbal became a rebel candidate without getting party nomination.

On February 1 this year, three people were shot dead in a clash between two groups of Awami League in Raipura Upazila of Narsingdi. At least 20-25 houses were vandalized and set on fire during the clashes. Apart from this, hundreds of cocktail explosions have also occurred. The clash took place between the supporters of Narsingdi district council member and leader of district Awami League Rajeev Ahmed and Nilaksha Union Awami League President Ismaili Sirazi.

Harunur Rashid, chairman of Shibpur Upazila of Narsingdi and former president of Upazila Awami League, was shot due to an internal dispute. A case was filed in this incident. His son md Aminur Rashid Khan named six people as the plaintiff and filed a written complaint against 10-12 unknown people at the police station. The complaint was registered as a case on Tuesday.

The conflict between current MP Abdul Momin Mondal and former MP Abdul Latif Biswas of Sirajganj-5 Constituency has come to light. Both sides are engaged in conflict. Although there was a cold war between them for a long time, it came to light on March 17 on the 103rd birthday of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Belkuchi Upazila Awami League organized a programme where the father of the nation's birthday banner has no picture of local MP Abdul Momin Mondal that created a conflict.

Locals said that on the occasion of Bangabandhu's birthday and National Children's Day Upazila Awami League organize a programme, local MP Upazila Awami League President Abdul Momin Mandal and General Secretary Ashanur Biswas went inside to attend the discussion after hoisting the flag in front of the Upazila Awami League office and placing flowers on Bangabandhu's portrait. At that time, MP supporters led by municipal councilor Zulfikar Mahmud Shiplu got angry and got into an argument with general secretary Ashanur Biswas as MP Abdul Momin Mondal's picture and name were not on the banner. When Kamal Hossain, General Secretary of Upazila Swachhasevak League, a supporter of Asanur Biswas protested, MP’s supporters attacked him. At one point, when a clash started between the two sides, the police came and controlled the situation. Ashanur Biswas is the wife of former MP and former minister Abdul Latif Biswas.

Asanur Biswas complained that Bangabandhu's birthday is a national programme. The banner of this program cannot have anyone else's picture except Bangabandhu and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The banner does not have the president's name or my name as the general secretary. Raised the flag together with the MP and went inside the party office. At this time, the Huda murder accused who were discussed with the MP entered. Later, as the MP's name and picture were not on the banner, his supporters got agitated and attacked her. Even an accused named Abdus Sabur Akand tried to push me out of the party office.

The incident does not end here, former MP Abdul Latif Biswas participated as the chief guest in a public meeting organized by Sadia Chandpur Union Jubo League on March 20. At that time, the former minister Latif Biswas openly criticized the current MP Momin Mandal and complained that the MP had not made any progress in the past days.

The next day Enayetpur Thana Awami League held a protest rally. At the rally, Enayetpur Thana Awami League President Ahmad Mostafa Khan Bachchu said, "Latif Biswas has developed his relatives while he was a minister."

On February 23, while reading a written statement at the press conference at Belkuchi Upazila Awami League office, Ashanur Biswas said that MP Momin Mandal formed a union committee with Jamaat-BNP leaders and workers in a single decision excluding the party leaders and workers, excluding the elected chairman, members and party leaders and workers. Various irregularities and arbitrariness are being done by working on various development projects with obedient people. As a result, party activities are gradually weakening. Among the six parliamentary constituencies of the district, this seat is identified as the most controversial area. As the 12th National Assembly elections are approaching, the party leaders and workers are divided into two groups. If it is not possible to resolve the internal conflict now, the party may have to pay the price in the 12th National Assembly elections. This area is dominated by Jamaat. MP Momin Mondal could not be contacted to inquire about this.

Comilla-4 Constituency MP Razi Mohammad Fakhrul's conflict with Upazila Chairman and Comilla North District Awami League Organizing Secretary Abul Kalam Azad has become public. In the upazila parishad by-election, Awami League got only 16 votes in the center of MP. In that election, Abul Kalam Azad was the candidate of the party. MP's uncle got 981 votes while participating as a BNP candidate. This began the distance of them.

On July 16 last year, a meeting was held at Jatiya Sangsad Bhavan regarding the conference of Debidwar Upazila Awami League. In that meeting, the general secretary of the district Awami League announced the names of president Siraj and secretary Swapan of Allahabad Union Awami League of the upazila. Upazila Parishad Chairman Abul Kalam Azad then supported the committee. Infuriated by this, MP Fakhrul continued to beat upazila chairman Azad. Later, the upazila chairman took treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. With this upazila Awami League was divided into two parts. That trend is still ongoing. Local leaders and workers complained that the MP moved with hybrids and infiltrators, excluding party leaders and workers. Apart from Awami League, he has formed his own army. Party leaders and workers are passing by.

In October last year, the upazila chairman visited the puja mandap at Bhinglabari of the municipality. At the same time MP Razi Mohammad Fakhrul also visited the pujamandap. Clashes broke out between the two groups over parking. At that time the chairman's car was attacked and several rounds were fired. Central leaders have also held meetings on this issue.

The leaders of Mohanpur Upazila Awami League and allied organizations have raised various allegations against Rajshahi-3 Constituency Member of Parliament Ayen Uddin and demanded that he not be given party nomination in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

On January 13, they held a press conference at the Rajshahi Journalists' Union and made this demand. In the press conference, Awami League member of parliament Ayen Uddin raised a number of allegations against Awami League party member including forming a party tribunal, giving jobs to the members of Jamaat-Shibir and Razakar, and assaulting local Awami League leaders and workers.

Abzal Hossain Bakul, former general secretary of Ghasigram Union Awami League, and Sheikh Habiba, women secretary of Mohanpur Upazila Krishak League, read out written statements at the press conference.

Meanwhile, Dinajpur district Awami League president and MP of Dinajpur-5 Constituency Mostafizur Rahman is involved in a dispute with Dinajpur-6 Constituency Member of Parliament Shibli Sadiq. The conflict between the two MPs has become public in the area. Not only that, last year on the night of August 27, Shibli Sadiq came on Facebook Live and accused Mostafizur Rahman of harassing him in various ways.

Apart from this, Shibli Sadiq has made various allegations against Mostafizur Rahman, including forming groupings in the party, taking a stand against the party candidate in the election, forming a pocket committee.

Earlier, members of Santal community of Nawabganj formed a human chain in front of Dinajpur Press Club against MP Shibli Sadiq and his relatives for land grabbing of small ethnic group Santals and forest department. Later they gave a memorandum to the District Commissioner.

Earlier on July 30, Santals held a press conference at Dinajpur Press Club and accused MP Shibli and his uncle of land grabbing. And MP Shibli Sadiq claims that MP Mostafizur Rahman is playing behind for raising these complaints.

MP Shibli Sadiq came on Facebook live around 9 pm after the Santals' human chain program. At that time, Shibli Sadiq called on Mustafizur Rahman to stop the 'dirty game' and make amends.

@The report was published in Bengali on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on March 29 and rewritten in English by Tanvir Raihan.