The aftermath of the 12th National Parliament election, once hailed for its unique strategy aimed at inclusivity, has begun to sow discord within the ranks of the ruling Awami League. Local party leaders and workers find themselves embroiled in disputes, allegedly instigated by incumbent MPs.
Despite the involvement of both party-nominated and independent candidates in the electoral fray, little attention is being paid to these internal conflicts, with several organizational leaders accused of exacerbating tensions at the grassroots level.
This internal turmoil within the Awami League is escalating into a self-destructive phenomenon, exposing organizational vulnerabilities and stemming from the manner in which the January 7 parliamentary elections were conducted. Instances of clashes have emerged in various regions, with a prominent Awami League leader brutally attacked and killed in Barisal's Hijla constituency, exacerbating tensions in the area.
Independent candidates elected to the 12th National Assembly are now rallying under the banner of the "MP League," while those who secured party nominations and won closely contested battles against independent candidates are seeking to eliminate their independent counterparts and their supporters. Consequently, the Awami League finds itself confronting internal opposition from within its own ranks.
This precarious situation not only tarnishes the image of the Awami League but also threatens to fracture the party irreparably. Party President Sheikh Hasina had urged responsible leaders to address post-election internal complications, yet tangible action remains elusive. Consequently, incidents of assaults and murders continue to sporadically occur, exacerbating the party's internal strife.
Political analysts said that currently Awami League has become relatively weak organizationally. Although the party is in power, the organizational condition of Awami League is more fragile than at any time in the past. Many districts and upazilas do not have a conference for a long time.
Mahanagar Awami League, known as the heart of Awami League's movement and struggle, is practically inactive now. There is no committee in Thana-wards. There is no proper guidance as to who will be responsible. Senior leaders said that if the party is not organized as soon as possible, Awami League will have to pay the price in the future.
Many thought that the violence would stop after the elections. But electoral violence is a form of conflict that spans ages. Now Awami League has to bear that burden. After the elections, the top level of Awami League has said several times in different ways that initiatives should be taken to resolve local disputes. But no one is actually taking effective steps to resolve the dispute.
Awami League presidium member AHM Khairuzzaman Liton told Bangladesh Pratidin, “The organizational tour of the party will begin after Eid. Disputes will be resolved by sitting with those leaders in the district and upazila. We hope that the internal crisis will be resolved as soon as possible.”
An Awami League leader named Jamal Majhi (55) was killed by terrorists in Barisal's Hijla last Saturday. The deceased Jamal is a follower of local independent member of parliament Pankaj Debnath. And Jamal Majhi's opponent, Dhulkhola UP Chairman Jamal Dhali and MP of reserved women's seat Shammi Ahmed followers. Jamal Majhi was a ward president of Dhulkhola Union. Being a follower of MP Pankaj Debnath, he has been attacked several times before. Jamal Majhi's wife Ankhi Noor alleged that Dhulkhola UP Chairman Jamal Dhali, Monir Sikder, Based Chowkidars killed her husband.
Pankaj Debnath alleged that the followers of Shammi, the member of parliament from the reserved women's seat, had committed the murder. She cannot avoid the responsibility. It is known that there is a long-standing dispute between Pankaj Debnath and Shammi Ahmed. Due to which several murders occurred in Hijla and Mehendiganj. Many are now homeless due to assault cases.
An Awami League activist named Ziarul Haque (36) was hacked to death in Rajshahi's Tanore on the night of February 21 due to internal conflict. Deceased Ziarul Haque is the son of Mohar Ali of Bilshahr village of Taland Union. Ziarul is the cousin of former president of Upazila Awami League Golam Rabbani and was Independent candidate for Rajshahi-1 (Godagari-Tanore) constituency.
Golam Rabbani claimed that Ziarul worked extensively for him in the parliamentary elections of January 7. Because of Ziarul's massive role in that election, independent candidate's scissor symbol got more than 600 votes than boat symbol in Lalpur school polling station. Since the election, he was under heavy threat from his opponents. Ziarul was killed in a planned manner by the terrorists of the opposition because he was working for the independent candidate.
Making the January 7 election competitive was one of the biggest challenges for the ruling party as BNP did not participate. In such a context, Awami League gives an opportunity to all those who are interested in standing for election in the party. At the same time, one person is nominated for each seat from the party. As a result, grassroots conflict escalated, which turned into violence in many places.
Awami League's strategy to make the January 7 election competitive was to open up the polls. Due to this decision of the party, grassroots-level leaders from the center got a chance to be candidates this time. More than 350 independent candidates have contested in at least 220 seats in this election, of which 269 are from the ruling party.
Since the announcement of the candidature, their conflict with the boat candidates began to come to light. But the situation became more critical after the elections. The election results show that independent candidates have won 62 seats, which is a record in the history of Bangladesh. Many top leaders of Awami League's central committee and heavyweight candidates also lost to independent candidates of the party this time.
The known leaders who elected under the boat symbol but could not win include State Minister for Relief and Disaster Enamur Rahman of the previous government, State Minister for Aviation and Tourism Advocate Mahbub Ali, State Minister for Rural Development and Cooperatives Swapan Bhattacharya. Apart from this, Awami League presidium member and election management committee co-chairman Kazi Zafarullah, publicity secretary Abdus Sobhan Mia, member of parliament Dhirendra Debnath Shambhu, central cultural secretary Asim Kumar Ukil, liberation war affairs secretary Mrinal Kanti Das.
In the last two and a half months after the elections, incidents of violence occurred in various districts across the country. In some places, attacks, looting and arson also occur in shops, residences, businesses.
After the elections, there were more reports of violence in Munshiganj, Barisal, Jhenaidah, Manikganj, Kushtia, Noakhali, Rajshahi, Pirojpur, Faridpur, Madaripur, Khulna, Patuakhali and several other districts. Most of these clashes-violence took place between activists-supporters of boat symbols and independent candidates, who are almost all leading members of the ruling Awami League at various levels.
In Munshiganj, Awami League's Central Committee Liberation War Affairs Secretary and influential leader Mrinal Kanti Das lost to independent candidate Mohammad Faisal. One person also died in the election day violence. There is now a dispute between different sides of the Awami League.
Similarly, the dispute came to light in Faridpur. Business leader AK Azad has been elected Member of Parliament after defeating the Awami League nominated candidate from Faridpur-3 constituency. His opponent in the election was District Awami League President Shamim Haque. After the election, it is seen that Azad's supporters are not getting invited to various functions of Awami League.
Faridpur-1 Constituency MP Abdur Rahman was recently felicitated by the District Awami League as he got the charge of Fisheries and Livestock Minister. Azad's supporters were not invited to that event. Similarly, individual parliamentarians or leaders of their followers Awami League and allied organizations are not invited to any program of Cumilla North District Awami League.
Three-time member of Parliament singer Mumtaz Begum lost to the independent candidate of her party in Manikganj-2 seat. District Awami League treasurer Dewan Zahid Ahmed Tulu won this seat as an independent candidate. After losing the election, Mumtaz also raised allegations of vote rigging. As a result, her conflict with the winning candidate has now reached its peak.
Barisal Metropolitan Awami League is now divided into two parts. Barisal city constituency MP Zahid Farooq vs Metropolitan Awami League General Secretary Sadiq Abdullah's supporters are divided into two groups.
(The report was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on March 28 and rewritten in English by Tanvir Raihan)
