Chittagong Awami League is divided over its reaction to the allegation against MP MA Latif that he had distorted the Bangabandhu’s photo in his billboards.
Seven ruling MPs of the district have thrown their support behind Latif. They issued a statement on Wednesday condemning Chittagong metropolitan Awami League chief former mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury for his tirade against MP Latif.
They claimed Chowdhury violated party rules and his behaviour is ‘beyond political courtesy’.
The MPs who signed the statement are Md Afsarul Amin, Mahfuzur Rahaman, Didarul Alam, ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury, Shamsul Hoque Chowdhury, Md Nazrul Islam Chowdhury and Mustafizur Rahman Chowdhury.
Of them, only Amin’s constituency is in the port city. The others are from different parts of Chittagong District .Chittagong Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin has not been seen in Chowdhury’s demonstration against Latif.
City mayor Nasir Uddin has rather criticised the two camps, saying they both are harming the party.
Latif, a business leader who got the Awami League ticket in 2008, has been at loggerheads with Chowdhury for years over several issues, including the control of the key port.
Leaders and activists of Awami League’s student affiliate Bangladesh Chhatra League and youth wing Juba League have been protesting since the distorted photos of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman were published on Latif’s billboards during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent visit to the city.
They have filed four cases against Latif accusing him of defaming the Bangabandhu and outright treason. The designer of the ad firm that made the billboards has taken the blame. Chowdhury on Monday asked Chittagong-11 lawmaker Latif not to move around in the city and warned him of a possible assault.
He also demanded that the MP be arrested within 15 days. He was addressing a rally organised by a citizen body, Nagorik Mancha, in protest against the reported image distortion on Monday last.
