Both the factions however announced the name of district BNP president and lawmaker Kazi Salimul Haque Kamal as chief guest in their programmes.

Kamal, lawaker frm Magura-2, attended the programme held by the faction led by district BNP organising secretary Akter Hossain. Former minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury joined the other programme held by the rival faction led by district BNP general secretary Ali Ahmed Biswas.

Tension mounted in the town and police contingents were brought from adjoining Jhenidah and Narail districts as the rival BNP factions took to streets and held rallies.

Ali Ahmed Biswas held his programme on Government Hossain Shahid Suhrowardy College premises, which was presided over by district BNP vice-president Aminul Islam Chandu Mia. Besidesa Nitai Roy Chowdhury, the pogramme was attended by Sadar upazila unit BNP president Sakhwat Hossain, general secretary Mihir Kanti Biswas and district unit Jatiyotabadi Chattra Dal general secretary Shahidul Islam Rupak.

At the same time, Akter Hossain held its programmes at Shegun-bagicha in the town, about only 250 yards away. With district BNP vice-president Mokaddes Hossain in the chair, it was attended by Kazi Salimul Haque Kamal MP, district BNP vice-president Nazimuddin Ahmed, women lawmakers Shahana Rahman and Newaz Halima Arly, Kazi Abdul Aala, former president of district Jubo Dal Khan Hasan Imam Suja and general secretary Alamgir Hossain.

Speakes at the meeting deman-ded removal of Ali Ahmed from the post of general secretary and his arrest.

Kazi Salimul Haque Kamal alleged that some newcomers in the party were hatching conspiracy to damage its image.

In the other meeing, Nitai Roy Chowdhury alleged that some people abused power and amassed crores of taaka through tender manipulation in the name of 'negotiation-committee'. While speaking at the meeting, Ali Ahmed Biswas denied his involvement with any outlawed party but admitted that some criminal cases were filed against him during Awami League rule to harass him. He also accused organising secretary Akter Hossain for misappropriating party funds amounting to of TK 80 lakh.

The intra-party conflict surfaced on May 28 when the two rival factions went on streets, publicly accusing each other.

At a rally on that day at Kadam-tala in the town, Nazimuddin called party general secretary Ali Ahmed Biswas an 'outlaw' and demanded his arrest for alleged involvement with outlawed Sarbahara Party and amassing crores of taka through tender manipulation.

They also alleged that Ali Ahmed Biswas was accused in at least 19 cases including for four of murder, one for looting Madhukhali police station in Faridpur, three for robbery and the rest for kidranapping and other crimes.

The other faction led by Ali Ahmed called their rivals 'agents' of oppositions' 14-party alliance.

The dispute between the rival factions was buried temporarily.

But after 3 months, rival faction again held separate programmes yesterday.

When asked about separate prorammes, Ali said, " They (rivals) arranged the programmes unconstitutionally because, as general secretary, I can call a meeting".

On contact, organising secretary Akter Hossain said, "I called the meeting as per the decision of the party's 8-member 'steering committee' and following the directive of our leader Kazi Salimul Haque Kamal".