The New Nation - Internet Edition

Rajshahi Correspondent

The Rajshahi Metropolitan unit of Awami League is now in the mire of leadership crisis following resignation of AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, mayor elect of Rajshahi City Corporation, from the post of general secretary of Rajshahi Metropolitan unit of AL.

Intra-party conflict has further weakened the party in Rajshahi city. The recommendations of the local committee of AL to expel Masudul Haque Bhulu,President, Metropolitan unit of AL , for contesting the mayoral election against Liton violating the party directive and Mostaque Ahmed Lablu, Vice-president from party posts and issuance of show cause notice on 12 local Al leaders including three vice-presidents of the metropolitan unit have pushed the party into corner in the city, according to activists of the party.

The three vice-presidents on whom the show cause notice has been served are Prof. Bazlur Rahman, Mir Iqbal Hossain and Dr. Tabibur Rahman Sheikh.

Party insiders said Liton, son of very influential Awami League central Leader late AHM Kamruzzan, wielded immense influence in local politics.

He had the guts and power to take any decision independently and promptly. With his resignation from the party post, the city Al is drifting in the sea of uncertainty, chaos and conflict.

Meanwhile, expressing their sharp reaction to their expulsion decision, both Dulu and Labu said that the local AL committee has no right to take such decision. The indecision of the AL central committee about the recommendations of the local AL committee on these disgruntled local leaders has further complicated the condition of the city Awami league, party insiders said.

There is now a scramble among the city AL leaders to occupy the coveted posts president, vice-presidents and general secretary of the city Awami League.

Though Linton has resigned from the party, he still retains enough power to pull the string from behind the scene and chart out the future course of the city and district Awami league, party activists said.