DHAKA: Crisis is being intensified in Dhaka city BNP although the committee was reshuffled in a bid to build a fruitful anti-government movement, said party insiders.

They hinted that the conflict between Sadek Hossain Khoka, who has been stripped off convener post, and newly appointed convener Mirza Abbas is likely to be surfaced, if not today, it’s certainly tomorrow.

“On his return from USA, Khoka is also going to resign as advisor of the Dhaka city committee,” said an insider.

He is likely to return home in seven to eight days.

As the Khoka-led committee apparently failed to wage any movement, his committee was scrapped and a new committee announced on July 18.

Standing committee member Mirza Abbas was named convener of the committee while Chairperson’s advisor Abdul Awal Mintoo senior joint-convener and former students’ leader Habibunnabi Khan Sohel the member secretary.

As the committee started its preparatory works, a government agency submitted a report to the government mentioning that most of committee members are in favor of former convener Sadek Hossain Khoka, sources concerned said. 

“Many of them are not friendly with Mirza Abbas in political activities,” said a source quoting the report.

Party insiders said that delayed holding of the first meeting of the committee was an indication of past rivalry between the supporters of Mirza Abbas and Sadek Hossain Khoka.

Some Khoka loyalists alleged that Mirza Abbas did not contact with them in last two weeks. “Rather, he (Abbas) held meetings with his supporters only,” said a city leader wishing anonymity.

The leader informed that they are planning to protest the ignorance once Khoka is back to Dhaka.

The former mayor of Dhaka is now undergoing treatment in USA.

His associates from USA informed that Khoka showed his dissatisfaction over the new committee where he found his place as a non-functionary advisor only.

A close aide of Khoka, accompanying him abroad, also informed that the former Dhaka city BNP convener was unhappy to know that his loyalists are being ignored by the top-brasses of the new committee.

BNP leaders however would not talk formally about the new crisis in the Dhaka city unit.

When contacted, joint convener MA Kaiyum declined to make any comment.

Kazi Abul Bashar, another joint convener, said that the rank and file of BNP are ready for waging a movement.

“Still, confusion arises if the leadership is not perfect,” he said.

BDST: 2055 HRS, AGU 03, 2014