Clash at MP's Reception in Titas: Two BNP Leader Brothers Expelled

Two local BNP leaders have lost their party posts over a clash between supporters of two prospective UP chairman candidates at a reception for a BNP member of parliament (MP) in Titas, Cumilla. They are two brothers—Emdad Hossain Akhand and Saimul Islam Akhand.

Emdad Hossain was a vice-president of the upazila BNP and Saimul Islam was the convener of the upazila Sramik Dal.

The expulsion of the two leaders was announced in separate letters on Thursday night. However, the matter became known on Friday.

According to local sources and the organisers, BNP MP Selim Bhuiyan of the Cumilla-2 (Homna-Titas) constituency was given a reception on being elected chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on the education ministry. It was organised by Jamal Uddin Pradhan, treasurer of Titas upazila BNP and a prospective chairman candidate for Ziarkandi Union Parishad.

At the event, upazila BNP vice-president and another prospective chairman candidate Emdad Hossain Akhand and his younger brother Saimul Islam Akhand went to the stage with their supporters. At that time, a clash began between their supporters and the supporters of Jamal Uddin.

The two sides attacked each other with sticks, chairs and festoon wood. A video of the clash spread on Facebook.

In a letter signed by Cumilla North district BNP convener Bir Muktijoddha Abul Hashem, it was said that on Thursday afternoon, at that reception event at the Gopalpur Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain High School field, Emdad Hossain attacked the opposing side's people with sticks. The Cumilla-2 (Homna-Titas) MP and leaders including the upazila BNP president and general secretary were present there at the time. Terming the incident anti-organisational activity, he was expelled.

Meanwhile, in a letter signed by Mohammad Alamgir, member secretary of Cumilla North district Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal, it was said that Saimul Islam attacked with sticks at the same place on Thursday afternoon. For this reason he has been expelled from his post.