Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad [BMS], a non-political welfare association of the freedom fighters of Liberation War, is now in deep trouble due to conflict between two groups over taking control of Central Command Council [CCC].The new controversy cropped up when a new group, led by Major General Helal Morshed Khan Bir Bikram, took hold of the BMS bagging all posts of CCC defeating Abdul Ahad Chowdhury panel through election held on June 4.There is a widespread allegation that several office-bearers of Khan-led panel including two vice chairmen-M Wahidur Rahman and SM Mortuja Hossain–are fake freedom fighters while the secretariat member Mahbubul Alam Chishti is accused in war crimes.Besides, the winners [Khan-led panel] allegedly had spent a huge amount of money and misused administrative power to influence the voters in favour of them. Wahidur Rahman, new vice chairman of BMS, who is also Chief Engineer of LGED, told The New Nation on Tuesday, “All the allegations against us are false. They are raising such allegations being defeated in the election.”Claiming himself as a real freedom fighter, he said, “I had fought during Liberation War. I can show you proofs if you come to my office.”However, other newly elected leaders including Khan, Mortuja Hossain and Chishti were not available despite repeated attempts. Sources said the new committee has been elected through a controversial way to bring a change in every tier of the BMS committees across the country. The fake freedom fighters and supporters of ruling Awami League are likely to be posted in the BMS committees, the sources added. AKM Muzammel Haque, Minister for Liberation War Affairs, when contacted yesterday night refused to make any comment on the matter. “I can’t tell you anything about BMS at this stage,” he said without any elaboration.As per organogram, the CCC of BMS comprises 101 members while the district committees have 51 members, thana committees 41 members and the union/ward committees 21 members.”Wahidur Rahman had largely misused his power to influence the election as engineers and contractors of LGED worked with cash money to manipulate the results of the elections,” Abdul Ahad Chowdhury, former Chairman of BMS, said.According to officials, a total of 1,52,078 voters across the country had cast their votes where four panels took part in the election. But three other panels, led by Major [retd] Zia Uddin, Major [retd] Wakar Hassan and Abdul Ahad Chowdhury failed to get any post of BMS.Meanwhile, Ahad Chowdhury, whose panel secured second position in election, demanded fresh elections under the direct supervision of the Election Commission and urged the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina not to sworn-in the new office-bearers. It is to be noted that Ahad was also widely blamed by the general freedom fighters during his tenure for various controversial activities.
