Dispute over the leadership of the Gono Odhikar Parishad continues to deepen as its two factions are still mudslinging over the dismissals of its founding convener Dr Reza Kibria and member secretary Nurul Haque Nur from their positions.
Nur on Thursday claimed that the party had followed the appropriate procedures in removing Reza Kibria. However, another faction terms the action illegal.
Addressing an event in Dhaka, Nur said: "From the beginning, we've followed a systematic process in accordance with the constitution.
“With the support of the two-thirds majority, we initially issued a removal letter to the party convener, provided a seven-day explanation period, and then removed him.”
He announced that the first council of the party will be held on July 10.
Meanwhile, speaking on the termination of Reza Kibria, Faruk Hasan, the joint convener of Gono Odhikar Parishad, said that a section of the party does not support the move by Nur and his followers.
“We consider him (Reza Kibria) to be retained as the convener of the party”, he said.
“We also want to declare that those who fixed the day of the council, excluding Reza Kibria, are planning to push the party towards disintegration,” said Faruk.
He was addressing a press conference organized under the banner of the Central Committee of Gono Odhikar Parishad at the National Press Club.
Faruk complained that, since June 18, all activities of Nur are against the party's constitution and principles.
Reza Kibria was removed by a faction loyal to Nur on June 19. The next day, he sacked Nur and announced the name of a new member secretary.
The feud ensued after Nur made some complaints against Reza Kibria on June 18, accusing him of working against the party's interest and trying to divide the BNP. Later on, Reza Kibria denied the allegations and accused Nur of having links to Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, unethical financial transactions and abuse of power.
The party was formed on October 26, 2021, three years after the activists came to light by spearheading a movement against quota system in government jobs. Recently, the party was shortlisted by the Election Commission.
