Srimangal (Moulvibazar) Correspondent

Md. Taj Uddin (Taju), who was removed from the post of joint convener of Srimangal Upazila BNP, said, 'I have been removed from the post of Upazila BNP to keep me away from organizational activities due to my disagreement with MP Haji Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury over party decisions and due money.'

Pointing to the MP, he said, 'I have been removed from the post on the pretext of false party discipline violation by a single decision of one person.'

In protest against this decision, Mohammad Taj Uddin Taju, the newly removed joint convener and general secretary of Upazila BNP, made these remarks at a press conference organized at a local restaurant on Thursday noon.

He said, 'On August 13, a meeting of the Srimangal Upazila BNP convening committee was held without me. In that meeting, it was decided to recommend my dismissal to the district BNP. After the meeting, some members of the upazila BNP informed me of the matter.

When this correspondent contacted the immediate upazila BNP convener, Mr. Nurul Alam Siddiqui, in this regard, he said that this resolution was passed against his wishes and no one was given a chance to say anything. Nurul Alam Siddiqui regretfully said - what is happening is not right, if it continues like this, the party's existence will be in crisis.'

Taju also said that on August 16, I was dismissed from the post of joint convener of Srimangal Upazila BNP through a letter signed by district BNP convener Md. Faizul Karim Mayun and member secretary Mr. Abdur Rahim Ripon. However, before the dismissal, I was not given any show cause or show cause notice. I was also not informed about the allegations against me. My statement was not taken regarding any of the allegations. I was not called for the organizational hearing. I came to know about this through media and party sources. I have been accused of violating party discipline, but since the last national election, I have been prevented from party activities, which I have informed the District BNP and Sylhet Divisional Co-Organizer Mr. Mifta Siddiqui at various times.'

He said, 'Until the parliamentary elections, I and the leaders and activists of Srimangal Upazila BNP have participated in various organizational activities with Haji Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury, MP from Moulvibazar-4 constituency. 2-3 weeks before the elections, there was a disagreement over some party issues and my personal financial debts. Since then, I have been kept away from various organizational activities. I, along with some people including the Upazila BNP convener and the Municipal BNP convener, have informed the Moulvibazar District BNP convener and member secretary about this matter.'

This BNP leader said, 'I joined BNP in 2006 holding the hand of veteran leader late MA Saifur Rahman. Having faith in the party's ideology and leadership, I have been actively participating in all the party's movements, struggles and organizational activities. In my long political career, I have fulfilled various important responsibilities of Srimangal Upazila BNP.

Among them, I have served as the general secretary for two terms and the last as the joint convener. I was in contact with leaders and activists at the grassroots level, implemented party programs, strengthened the organization at the ward and union levels, and stood by the leaders and activists during the party's difficult times. While participating in the movement and struggle on the streets during the party's difficult times, I had to face many cases, attacks and imprisonment.

From January 5, 2009 to August 5, 2024, more than 30 false and absentee cases were filed against me. I have been imprisoned for about 720 days in these cases at different times. My family members have also been victims of multiple cases. Despite these adversities, I did not deviate from the party and did not compromise with the party's ideology for any personal gain.

On January 5, 2018, when the welcome procession was taken out in Srimangal on the occasion of the arrival of the national leader Begum Khaleda Zia in Sylhet, the police attacked me and arrested me along with the leaders and activists. They tortured me and broke my leg. Later, I was kept in the prison cell of Sylhet MAG Osmani Hospital from jail and was given treatment. The current MP was with me in these programs. I worked for the party even in adverse political situations. Considering my sacrifice and struggle for the party, the party evaluated me by giving me the post of the last joint convener.

Taj Uddin Taju said, "After passing the parliamentary elections, the party's sacrificed and persecuted leaders and activists of the party are being devalued. They are being removed from the party.

It is learnt that there is a fear that if a committee is formed in a pocket according to one's will due to the influence of someone's personal likes, dislikes or personal disputes, dissatisfaction may arise among the leaders and activists.
At the press conference, he called the decision to remove the joint convener from the post of unjust and unorganizational and demanded a reconsideration of this decision by the district.

When asked to know, MP Haji Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury was called, and his PS said that he is busy in the parliament for the presidential election.

When contacted, Upazila BNP convener Nur Alam Siddiqui refused to comment on the matter.