Pabna, Aug 26 (V7N) - Leaders and activists of the Ishwardi upazila and municipal units of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its affiliated organisations have rejected the newly formed committees and issued a 48-hour ultimatum for their cancellation.

They warned of launching a tougher movement if the committees are not withdrawn within the deadline.

The demand was made at a press conference held at the Khairuzzaman Babu Bus Terminal area in Ishwardi on Tuesday (Aug 25). The aggrieved leaders and activists later brought out a protest procession.

Amirul Islam Swapan, former joint secretary of Ishwardi Municipal BNP, alleged that the newly announced committees had excluded many BNP leaders and activists who had faced imprisonment, persecution and violence during the movement against the previous government.

He further alleged that people whom they described as criminals, fraudsters, bank defaulters, armed individuals, international drug traffickers and alleged collaborators of the Awami League had been included in the committees.

“We strongly reject these one-sided committees,” Swapan said.

Issuing the ultimatum, he demanded that the committees be suspended within 48 hours and that new committees be formed after consulting grassroots leaders and activists.

“Otherwise, we will announce tougher programmes. If the overall situation in Ishwardi deteriorates, we will not take responsibility for the consequences,” he said.

Following the press conference, the protesters brought out a demonstration and a symbolic broom procession. The procession began at Khairuzzaman Babu Central Bus Terminal, passed through major streets of the town and ended at the Old Bus Terminal, where the protesters held a brief rally.

Among those present were BNP leader and former councillor Anwar Hossain Jony, former organising secretary of Ishwardi Municipal BNP Islam Hossain Jewel, former general secretary of Pakshi Union BNP Jahangir Hossain, BNP leader Erbas Hossain, former vice-president of the municipal BNP Abdur Razzaq and former general secretary of Sara Union BNP Akkas Ali.

On Aug 16, Pabna district BNP announced an Ishwardi upazila BNP convening committee with former Sara Union chairman Ziaul Islam Sontu Sardar as convener and former Dashuria Union chairman Shariful Islam Tuhin as member secretary.

A separate Ishwardi municipal BNP convening committee was announced with Mahbubur Rahman Palash as convener and Imrul Kayes Sumon as member secretary.

END/MSR/SMA/