Ctg BNP agog with poll preparations

The BNP in Chittagong has started preparing its workers and leaders for the next parliamentary election. As part of the preparation, the leaders of the party's Chittagong City, North and South District committees are trying to remove the gaps between them. Moreover, they are talking with the grassroots level workers, sources in BNP said.
They said, following the steps for preparation to contest the next national election, a high-power Organising Team of the central committee of BNP visited Chittagong on October 18 last. The committee held a meeting with the North District Committee of Chittagong BNP to minimize the internal feud in the party. Discords have been engulfing the committees of Chittagong BNP for some time.
The 42 members the Organising Team of the central committee of BNP led by party vice chairman Begum Rabeya Chowdhury discussed about the crisis with the grassroots level leaders and took recommendations from them for strengthening the party in Chittagong. The central leaders urged the grassroots level activists to uphold the ideology of late President Ziaur Rahman for winning the next election. Among others, central leaders of BNP Abdullah Al Noman, Golam Akber Khondakhar, Sayed Wahidul Alam, Amir Khashru Mahamud Chowdhury addressed the view-exchange meeting that was held with the Organising Team of the Central Committee at a community centre.
Abdullah Al Noman, joint secretary of BNP, told The Independent that the leaders and activists of BNP in Chittagong are united under the leadership of Begum Khaleda Zia. He said BNP is a pro-election political party. People are the main strength of BNP. So, the party wants to join the election. The present caretaker government should ensure the environment enabling all political parties to join the next parliamentary election, he added.
He further said, under the state of emergency the election cannot be free and fair. The government should withdraw the state of emergency immediately for free political activities of the political parties.
Golam Akber Khondakar, president of Chittagong North District committee, told The Independent that there might be internal feud in a big party like BNP. "We will overcome the differences of opinion among the leaders and we can be united under the leadership of Begum Khaleda Zia," he added.
On the other hand, the convener of the four-member ad-hoc committee of Chittagong City committee Syed Wahidul Alam met with Begum Khaleda Zia. Alam told The Independent that the BNP chairperson directed them to be united and solve all internal feuds in BNP in Chittagong immediately.
He said, "I talked with chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia for reorganising the committee of Chittagong City BNP. She felt the need to take decision in this regard immediately for winning all the seats in Chittagong in the next parliament election.
"We may expand the ad-hoc committee very soon. We will include the root- level leaders and activists in the ad-hoc committee. We will hold a meeting of ad-hoc committee in a short time. We will propose the names of the leaders for expanding the ad-hoc committee and send the list to the central committee for approval. BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia will take final decision in this regard," he said.
The organising team will hold a meeting with the leaders of Chittagong City and South District committees very soon.
Meanwhile, the probable poll candidates of BNP in Chittagong have started preparations for the parliamentary election scheduled to be held on December 18.