Mahi sees BNP hand in Bikalpadhara split as expelled leaders form new committee

A splinter of Bikalpadhara Bangladesh has formed a new committee, leaving out AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury, Abdul Mannan and Mahi B Chowdhury.

Its chief Badruddoza’s son Mahi, who is a joint secretary general of the party, suspects the BNP has orchestrated the rift. 

Shah Ahmed Badal announced the new committee from a news conference at the National Press Club in Dhaka on Friday.

Claiming that the new committee is the mainstream of Bikalpadhara, he announced a decision to join the Dr Kamal Hossain-led Jatiya Oikya Front, an alliance which has the BNP as a member.

The latest move was born out of vengeance, as Bikalpadhara led by Badruddoza expelled Badal and other leaders.

The new committee was formed with a Dhaka University teacher, Nurul Amin Bepari, as its chief. Badal was made general secretary. Names of other members will be announced later.

Speaking to reporters at their Baridhara home later in the afternoon, Mahi described the announcement of the expelled leaders as ‘ridiculous’, ‘dirty’ and ‘against its constitution’.

“It has been done to mislead the nation. Many are saying that the BNP is involved in it. I believe so,” he said.

“The BNP has played dirty tricks with us all the time. It proves that the failed BNP leadership is going hurtling towards political bankruptcy,” he added.

AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury and Dr Kamal Hossain. File Photo

Badruddoza, the founding secretary general of the BNP, became president of the country after the BNP-Jamaat-e-Islami alliance came to power in 2001.

He formed the Bikalpadhara after being forced to leave the president's office during BNP chief Khaleda Zia's rule.

He moved to float a new coalition led by Dr Kamal as the 11th parliamentary election loomed on the horizon. But he attached some conditions, with one of them for the BNP to shun its ally Jamaat.

The BNP did not come up with any statement to clarify its position, nor did it sever its ties with the Islamist party. Meanwhile, Dr Kamal went ahead with his plan for a new alliance, leaving out Badruddoza and his party colleagues in a political rift.