Media: The Independent
The long-standing internal feud in Chittagong city Awami League (AL) between ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, President of AL city unit, and AJM Nasir Uddin, Secretary of AL city unit and the Mayor, has surfaced afresh over the murder of a student of Premier University on Tuesday.
Speculations are rife, connecting the murder to the rivalry between the two leaders over ownership of the Premier University for the last one-and-a-half years. There has been an ongoing tussle over selection of Chairman of the Premier University Trustee Board and a case has also been lodged with the High Court in this regard. As per law, AJM Nasir Uddin, as the sitting Mayor, will be the Chairman of the Trustee Board and his immediate predecessor as Mayor, M Manjur Alam, will be a member of the Trustee Board.
AJM Nasir Uddin, while visiting the Chittagong Medical College Hospital morgue, said, “Those sheltering the killer will not be excused.” He added that police has been directed to ensure that the criminals do not leave the city limits.
He said, “Certain quarters, under a political shield, have tried to spoil the University environment for some days. In broad daylight, a murder took place in the university. I demand maximum sentence for the killer and those protecting them.”
“The victim had invited me to the farewell programme, but I refused since I didn’t have time,” recalled Nasir.
On Tuesday, Nasim Ahmed Sohal, an MBA student and member of the Bangladesh Chattra League (BCL)’s Chittagong city unit, was killed over the choice of a Chief Guest for the farewell programme for BBA graduates. One group wanted to invite Mohiuddin Chowdhury as Chief Guest, while the other group was against it. Sohal was a follower of AJM Nasir Uddin. The leaders and activists known as followers of ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury stated, “Any attempts to vandalise the city will be resisted.”
ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, in a statement sent to media on Tuesday, termed the clash regrettable and demanded that the killers be brought to justice. “I am calling upon the students, parents and city dwellers to stay alert against conspiracy of the University. Due to some imprudent figures, the noble University cannot be destroyed.”
Even after the incident on Tuesday, the two groups were locked in a chase at Probortak Circle, Gol Phar Circle and Wasa Circle areas openly.
The city AL is divided into two major factions, with ABM Mohiuddin leading one camp and the other headed by AJM Nasir Uddin, known as the anti-Mohiuddin group. “The man who carried out terrorism and vandalism in the whole city should be brought to justice,” stated Khurshed Alam Sujan, Joint Secretary, AL city unit, known as follower of Mohiuddin Chowdhury.
Dispute between Mohiuddin Chowdhury and Abdul Latif, MP, known to be anti-Mohiuddin, has become evident on several occasions over bidding for a private operator for the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) at Chittagong port.
As a sequel to the longstanding dispute between Mohiuddin and anti-Mohiuddin camps, an allegation came against MA Latif that he had distorted Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s picture during the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Chittagong in January last. Then, Mohuddin openly demanded justice for MA Latif, and AJM Nasir Uddin stood behind MA Latif.
