US Awami League chief accused of seeking BNP help to punish party supporters

Ruling Awami League’s US chapter president has allegedly sought arch-rival BNP’s help to ‘punish’ some leaders and activists of his own party.

New York Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 17 March 2015, 03:50 PM
Updated : 17 March 2015, 03:50 PM

Party’s New York city unit raised the allegation at a news conference on Monday.

At the media call, a video was shown in which US Awami League President Siddiqur Rahman and several other leaders and activists are seen in a BNP press conference held on Sunday.

The BNP former US unit president Abdul Latif Samrat said at the BNP press meet: “Talks have already happened. Talks are over.

“They (Awami League leaders) have already said clearly that if anyone other than them comes to us in the name of the Awami League, we will tie them up here,” he said.

Awami League leaders accompanying Rahman endorsed the statement of Samrat before leaving the BNP press conference.

The ruling party’s New York city unit President Nurunnabi Commander said at their press meet: “Siddiqur Rahman wants to punish us by colluding with the BNP and Jamaat (-e-Islami).”

Rahman, however, rejected the allegation as ‘conspiracy’.

Awami League leaders said Rahman went to the BNP press conference hearing that a BNP leader’s son Rizve Ahmed Caesar, who allegedly plotted to abduct Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed Joy, would be present there.

On the other hand, Awami League New York unit leaders and activists went to Caesar’s press conference venue to chase him on sight.

Nurunnabi Commander also accused Rahman of ‘unexpected interference’ in the activities of New York Awami League.

New York State Awami League General Secretary Shahin Azmal was present at the press conference among others.