BNP's announcement of candidate divides party politics in Natore: Fears of suicidal results

BNP's announcement of candidate divides party politics in Natore: Fears of suicidal results

National Desk :    |    ০৭:০৯ পিএম, ২০২৫-১১-১৩

Jasmine Sultana returns from Natore: BNP politics in Natore is now immersed in a severe internal crisis. The party's long-time loyalists and field leaders and activists have become helpless due to the political pressure of influence-peddling, extortion and 'one leader'-centric power. Deep disagreements and divisions have emerged between the central and local leadership over BNP's nomination and organizational position. Although no one has protested publicly, intense anger and dissatisfaction are increasing day by day inside. Grassroots leaders and activists and voters fear that this will have a huge impact on the upcoming national elections. Natore-1 (Lalpur-Bagatipara): BNP has nominated Advocate Farzana Sharmin Putul, daughter of former State Minister Fazlur Rahman Patol, special assistant to the BNP Chairperson's Foreign Affairs Advisory Committee and member of the party's media cell, for this seat. He has also been appointed as the joint convener of Natore district BNP. Putul's position in local politics is exceptional. He is not an individualist, but does party politics, which is why his popularity among the common people is gradually increasing. However, a new conflict has also arisen around the nomination, because Putul's own elder brother Dr. Yasir Arshad Rajan also sought nomination for the same seat. Rajan is a close follower of BNP Chairperson's advisor and former Deputy Minister Advocate Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu.

It is learned that Dulu is opposing Putul by supporting Rajan to strengthen his own circle. District BNP member secretary Asaduzzaman Asad believes that Ruhul Quddus Dulu has been making his own group of followers influential in Natore district BNP politics for a long time.

There are allegations against him that he prioritizes individualist politics and his own circle over the party. Due to this influence, many dedicated and ideological leaders of the grassroots have been neglected in party politics. Especially after August 5, Dulu's followers have been accused of involvement in numerous criminal activities and extortion incidents, which has spread panic among voters.

Looking at history, it can be seen that independent candidate Momtaz Uddin was elected to Natore-1 constituency in 1986. In 1988, Jatiya Party's Nowsher Ali Sarkar won. BNP leader Fazlur Rahman Patol was a member of parliament four times from 1991 to 2001. Jatiya Party's Abu Talha was elected in 2008, Awami League's Abul Kalam in 2014, Shahidul Islam Bakul in 2018, and Abul Kalam (independent) again in 2024.

Local voters believe that at present, the brave leader Farzana Sharmin Putul is the one who is dedicated to the party here and she is the most popular candidate in the field. Natore-2 (Natore Sadar-Naldanga): Former advisor to the BNP Chairperson and former deputy minister Advocate M Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu has received the party's primary nomination for this constituency. He will contest the 13th National Parliament election from this constituency. But there has been adverse reaction within the party surrounding Dulu. The pressure of his followers, the creation of a ring and the accusations of extortion have angered Trinamool leaders and activists.

Many district-level leaders have complained that no one is speaking out publicly for fear of the Dulur cadre force. Some fear that if he is nominated, voters will turn their backs. The politics of Natore-2 constituency is mainly centered on Dulur. He was the MP of this constituency in two elections in 1996 and in 2001. In 2008, Ahad Ali Sarkar of the Awami League, and in the subsequent three elections of the Awami League, the nominated candidate of the AL, Shafiqul Islam Shimul, won. However, there are still several young and clean-looking leaders in this constituency. Among them, district BNP member and advisor to our BNP family, Md. Abul Kashem, and district BNP member secretary Asaduzzaman Asad are among them. However, locals allege that the people of Dulur Bola, jealous of the widespread popularity of Abul Kashem and Asaduzzaman Asad at the field level, have been constantly creating obstacles in their social, political and humanitarian activities. Due to Dulu's influence, their overall activities in Natore are being hampered. This is tarnishing the party's image. Meanwhile, Dulu's loyal follower, former convener of the District Volunteer Party, Farhad Ali alias Dewan Shaheen, has been described by locals as the most powerful person in Natore, i.e. the 'godfather'. There are numerous allegations of extortion, encroachment and criminal activities against Dewan Shaheen.

Locals allege that Shahin is being assisted in these activities by Abul Bepari, A. Hai Talukder Dalim, Russell Roni, Kamrul and Shamsul Islam Roni and several other identified individuals. After investigating, it has been learned that after the political change of August 5 last year, Dulu's followers have allegedly established exclusive control over various organizations including the district's contractors, bus owners and document writers' association and leather business.

Three important leaders of Natore district BNP said on condition of anonymity that all these activities were carried out under the direct orders of Ruhul Kuddus Dulu. Advocate Ruhul Kuddus Talukder Dulu became the first Deputy Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives of Natore Sadar in the National Parliament. After that, he served as the Deputy Minister of Land. After that, he served as the advisor to the BNP Chairperson and the Organizing Secretary of BNP's Rajshahi Division. In addition, this BNP leader served as the President of Natore district BNP for a long time. That is why the locals consider its leaders and activists to be reckless.

However, Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu has repeatedly warned at a public meeting that if anyone from the party commits injustice, torture, terrorism and extortion in the name of BNP in Natore, his teeth and hands will be broken. Natore-3 (Singra Upazila): BNP has not yet officially announced the name of any candidate in this constituency. However, district BNP member principal Anwarul Islam Anu claimed that he received the green signal from BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman. But in the end, he was not selected for nomination. Anu is the uncle of Arifa Jasmine Konika, wife of former ICT State Minister Junaid Ahmed Palak. When the matter went viral on social media, there was a strong reaction in Singra Upazila BNP.

Local leaders alleged that Anu had done nothing for the party. Despite being in the opposition for the past 17 years, no case was filed against him, nor did he serve jail time. According to information, BNP had a historically strong position in Natore-3 constituency. Except for Junaid Ahmed Palak, the Awami League could not exert much influence in this constituency. In 1991, Abu Bakar Sherkoli was elected from Jamaat-e-Islami. After his death, BNP's Professor Kazi Golam Morshed was elected MP in the 1995 by-election. Later, he won again in the 1996 and 2001 elections. Kazi Golam Morshed's role in the infrastructure development and electricity connection of Singra Upazila, where the Chalanbil people live, is still praised. He is the party's nomination candidate in this election and, according to the locals, the most qualified candidate.

Senior leader Professor Kazi Golam Morshed said, I have worked for the party in Singra Upazila for a long time. I want to maintain the tradition and strong position of BNP in this constituency. If the party's central leadership nominates me, I can definitely say that I will be able to fight hard with the support of the people. I believe that the local people want an honest and experienced leader with party commitments, and I am ready to take that responsibility. Because I am a leader who has passed the exam as an MP before. Natore-4 (Gurdaspur-Baraigram): BNP has nominated Mahmud Abdul Aziz, the joint convener of the district BNP and former upazila chairman and a close friend of Ruhul Quddus Dulu, in this constituency. There were allegations of widespread extortion and criminal activities against him in the area even before the nomination was announced. District BNP member secretary Asaduzzaman has publicly commented on Asad Aziz's misdeeds.

Trinamool leaders said that after receiving the nomination, the people around Aziz have become well-organized and have formed a group-based position, who are working for personal interests instead of the party. There are allegations against this Aziz of looting pond fish and Walton Plaza. According to the Election Commission, Abul Kashem Sarkar of the Jatiya Party was elected to the Natore-4 constituency in 1986. Abdul Quddus of the Awami League in 1991, Ekramul Alam of the BNP in 1996, and later Quddus again in the second election of the same year, Mozammel Haque of the BNP in 2001, and Abdul Quddus of the Awami League from 2008 to 2018 were MPs from this constituency. Siddiqur Rahman Patwary of the Awami League won the 2023 by-election and was again elected as an MP in 2024 as an AL candidate. Barrister Abu Hena Mustafa Kamal Ranju and John Gomez are seeking BNP nomination in this seat in the next election and are interested in voting for BNP. Both of them have huge popularity in this seat.

Locals have alleged that Mahmud Abdul Aziz established a kind of reign of terror in Gurdaspur-Baraigram after August 5, being a close follower of Dulu. However, no one dares to speak out publicly. Md. Shariful Islam Mukta, a resident of Baraigram, a member of the district BNP executive committee and general secretary of the Natore District Bar Association, said that the party has initially announced the nomination of renegade leaders in two seats in Natore district, excluding the renegades. But the party should have found the renegades. That way, the democratic trend in the party would have continued. But there are some fierce terrorists in Natore due to political influence, because of whom it is scary to even speak the truth. Because there is no guarantee that you will go home after speaking here. If they find out, they will kill you. For this reason, people do not open their mouths out of fear. However, the people will give a true message at the ballot box. This internal conflict and power circle of Natore district BNP is now questioning the future prospects of the party. The defected leaders say that if BNP is not freed from the control of the influential group from the center, it will become difficult for the party to survive in the field. And because of this circle, it will have a huge impact on the election results of the BNP nominated candidates in the thirteenth national parliament election. Several political analysts are of the opinion that this can be considered a bad sign for the party.