BNP Suspends Organisational Posts of Two Leaders in Narayanganj Over Alleged Breach of Party Discipline

PNN News Desk | Narayanganj

The organisational positions of Advocate H. M. Anwar Pradhan, general secretary of BNP’s Narayanganj Sadar Thana unit, and Advocate Sheikh Anjum Ahmed Rifat, president of Ward 13 of the Narayanganj Metropolitan BNP, have been suspended over alleged violations of party discipline. Anwar Pradhan has also been temporarily relieved of his position as a member of the metropolitan BNP convening committee.

The decisions were communicated in separate letters signed on Sunday (October 11) by Narayanganj Metropolitan BNP Convener Advocate Sakhawat Hossain Khan and Member Secretary Advocate Md. Abu Al Yousuf Khan Tipu. The letters stated that the decisions would take effect upon receipt.

According to the letters, the metropolitan BNP reviewed the replies submitted by the two leaders in response to show-cause notices issued on October 8 and found their explanations unsatisfactory. The organisational action was taken in connection with an incident on October 6.

The letters alleged that Anwar Pradhan had led an incident in which Sakhawat Hossain Khan, the metropolitan BNP convener, was subjected to inappropriate and aggressive behaviour. Rifat was also accused of encouraging and assisting the incident instead of intervening to stop it.

The letters further referred to reports published by various online news outlets concerning allegations that Sakhawat Hossain Khan had been confined and later left after an apology. The two leaders reportedly described those accounts as false.

In their replies to the show-cause notices, the two leaders had described the incident as a matter concerning the Lawyers’ Forum. However, the metropolitan BNP maintained that Sakhawat Hossain Khan was present in his capacity as the organisation’s convener. It therefore considered the alleged behaviour towards him a violation of party discipline.

Separate letters also raised allegations that the two leaders had obstructed Advocate Sumon Mia, the newly appointed special public prosecutor at the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal, from performing his duties. The allegations included keeping his official chamber locked, intimidating him and threatening to kill him. The metropolitan BNP said such actions had damaged the government’s image.

After reviewing the allegations and the replies to the show-cause notices, the metropolitan BNP decided to suspend Anwar Pradhan from his two organisational positions and Rifat from his position as ward president. Copies of the letters were also sent to the BNP’s central office secretary.

Meanwhile, Anwar Pradhan described the suspension as unjust and said he would appeal to the BNP chairman against the decision.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, Anwar said he had appealed to party leaders and activists to judge those who had unjustly suspended him from his position as general secretary of the Narayanganj Sadar Thana BNP. He also confirmed that he would appeal to the BNP chairman.

Regarding the decision, metropolitan BNP Member Secretary Advocate Md. Abu Al Yousuf Khan Tipu said the suspensions were made in accordance with a decision of the executive committee. He said the two leaders had been issued show-cause notices over their alleged behaviour towards the metropolitan BNP convener and their use of inappropriate language. Their responses were deemed unsatisfactory, leading to the disciplinary action.

Tipu added that a letter recommending further organisational action against the two leaders would be sent to the BNP chairman.