A BNP unit party office in south Chattogram has been taken over and kept under lock and key by disgruntled activists of the party’s local student wing, who were desperate to secure places in a new committee to run Jatiya Chhatra Dal affairs in south Chattogram.

The enraged would-be leaders of JCD locked the party office in Dost Building at Kotwali Road in the city’s New Market area, after their ultimatum for dissolving the committee expired on August 26.

Also read: JCD acting president accuses DB police of torture after politically motivated arrests of its activists, leaders

The aggrieved JCD leaders issued the ultimatum at a press conference recently.

They alleged that new committee of the south district unit was not formed properly by evaluating the dedicated members of the student body of BNP.

JCD’s south district unit leader Ziaul Hoque, said dedicated and competent leaders were not honoured in the committee. In their place, those who were married, courted controversy, and presumably the worst offenders non- students gained posts in exchange for money.

Demanding cancellation of the committee, he said they are determined to continue the movement until their demands are met.

Also read: 4 JCD activists detained during protest against harassment of their female activist

BNP central committee JCD affairs secretary Rakibul Islam Bakul was slammed as the man behind 'the pocket committee', formed by taking money from the post holders.

The roots of their rage can be traced to August 11, when the central JCD body announced a 42-member committee to conduct its affairs, with Rabiul Hossain Robin as convenor and Kamruddin Sabuj serving as member secretary.

The leaders-who-could-have-been alleged that Chattogram Divisional Organising Secretary Mahbuber Rahman Shamim and south district unit BNP Senior Joint Secretary Enamul Hoque Enman placed their favoured followers in the committee, resulting in a body loyal above all to Enam.

Also read: 6 arrested JCD leaders were ‘planning to display illegal firearms and create panic among the public’: Police

JCD central General Secretary Saif Mahmud Jewel said his signature was taken forcibly, and explaining the choice of party office that was taken over, he alleged  leaders of the south district BNP were championing the manipulated committee. 

Accused Shamim and Enam could not be reached over phone despite repeated attempts by UNB’s Chhatogram correspondent on Monday.

Abu Sufian, convenor of the south district unit BNP, told UNB to not attach too much importance to any fraternal fights that may spark in the JCD in the months ahead.

Also read: Narsingdi JCD killings: BNP central leader Khokan, his wife among 70 implicated

After a long time, they were getting back on their feet and getting organised again, and during this period, some friction was inevitable within their party ranks.

He said competition exists in politics, but the entire matter would be resolved soon by the factions involved.