Nazmul Huda abolishes BNF

DHAKA, Sept 23: Former communications minister Nazmul Huda on Monday announced the “abolition” of the controversial Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF) as its founder.

Huda came up with the announcement at a press conference at his Topkhana Road office in the city.

His announcement came amid the BNP`s allegation that the party was being aided by the government to `destroy` the main opposition party.

“I’d founded this organisation and I myself announce its abolition,” Huda said though he himself was expelled from it earlier.

BNF is presently led by Abul Kalam Azad. Former BNP leader and a state minister Jahanara Begum was also seen at various party programmes.

"Azad is trying to divert the party’s objectives," alleged Huda. "That is why I am announcing the BNF`s abolition."

On June, 6, 2012, Huda resigned from BNP in protest against party chief Khaleda Zia’s failure to engage in talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as per his proposal.

The BNF`s electoral logo `sheaf of wheat` is almost similar to the BNP`s `sheaf of paddy`.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in her address in a public rally in Rajshahi on September 16 asked the EC not to give registration to BNF terming it a baseless organisation. Otherwise, she warned the EC of ‘dire consequences’.

After the announcement of BNF’s abolition, Huda claimed that he is still a BNP member as its chairperson did not accept his resignation letter. I was with BNP and still with it. It’s not that much easy to weaken my position in BNP.”

Huda, also a former MP of Dohar, said he will seek nomination from BNP to contest the next election with BNP’s election symbol, the sheaf of paddy.

risingbd/ASB