Sylhet BNP explains boycott of President’s civic reception

Collected Photo

Sylhet metropolitan BNP has explained its decision to boycott a civic reception for President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, citing what it described as arbitrary conduct by the organisers and failure to properly involve the party in the arrangements.

In a joint statement on Tuesday evening, Sylhet metropolitan BNP President Nasim Hossain and General Secretary Emdad Hossain Chowdhury said the party had stayed away from the reception organised by Sylhet City Corporation.

However, BNP leaders and activists took part in other programmes during the President’s Sylhet visit, including welcoming him at the airport and visiting the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal and Hazrat Shah Paran. They later met the President at the Circuit House and briefed him on the reasons behind the boycott.

In the statement, Nasim and Emdad said Sylhet residents were happy about the President’s visit and that metropolitan BNP had welcomed him at several points in the city.

They alleged that Sylhet City Corporation Administrator Abdul Kaiyum Chowdhury had exercised unilateral authority in organising the reception, making the event controversial.

They said two meetings held in the presence of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury and the Sylhet district administration had stressed forming a civic committee through consensus.

However, according to the statement, the city corporation administrator did not follow the process and ignored BNP leaders while making arrangements and issuing invitations.

The metropolitan BNP leaders said they and leaders of its affiliated organisations therefore stayed away from the civic reception as part of maintaining party discipline and registering their protest.

Later on Tuesday evening, BNP and metropolitan BNP leaders met President Mirza Fakhrul at the Circuit House and explained the background to the boycott and their concerns over the city corporation administrator’s approach.

The meeting was attended by BNP Chairperson’s Adviser Dr Mohammad Enamul Haque Chowdhury, BNP Executive Committee Joint Organising Secretary and Sylhet WASA Chairman Miftah Siddiqui, BNP Executive Committee member and Sylhet District Council Administrator Abul Kaher Chowdhury Shamim, Nasim Hossain, Emdad Hossain and former metropolitan BNP general secretary and Jalalabad Gas director Badruzzaman Selim.

Abdul Kaiyum Chowdhury declined to comment when contacted about the matter.