The Feni district unit of Awami League has allegedly been obstructing parts of one of the key roads of district town since Tuesday, in order to set up a reception programme for the communications minister and three new MPs due for today.
Locals said the town was experiencing severe traffic congestion after local Awami League activists stopped vehicular movement on parts of the Trunk Road on Tuesday to set up a stage on the road. Business in the shops adjacent to the road has also come to a halt.
The entire town has also been covered with archways, banners and festoons for Communications Minister Obaidul Quader, Awami League leader Alauddin Chowdhury Nasim, and three MPs – Shirin Akhter (Feni 1), Nizam Uddin Hazari (Feni 2) and Haji Rahim Ullah (Feni 3).
Although the road was located in front of the Feni model police station, the law enforcers refused to comment on the issue.
Many leaders of the BNP’s district unit blamed the police for its silent role, and said BNP and its wings do not get permission to hold rallies in front of the police station.
Seeking anonymity, some local AL leaders said it usually did not take more than a day to build a stage on the road. They also blamed some “enthusiastic” leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League and Jubo League for blocking the road and marring the party’s image.
Abdur Rahman Bikrom, president of AL’s Feni district unit, said: “The mass reception has been transformed into a mass gathering by the order of the communications minister.”
Meanwhile, at a discussion programme with journalists on Thursday evening, lawmaker Nizam Uddin Hazari, also the district AL general secretary, expressed sorrow for the disruption of vehicular movement, but requested the journalists to see the matter as a normal issue.
