These were part of a countrywide programmes of BNP-led four party alliance, announced earlier, to protest the alleged anarchy created by the Awami League-led 14-party alliance.

Our Gaibandha correspondent reported that the two rival factions of district BNP held separate rallies in the town yesterday to stage showdown.

The faction led by district BNP president Hamidul Huq Chhana held its meeting on Shaheed Minar premise while the other faction led by four-party alliance convener Shiekh Samand Azad held its programme in front of BNP office.

Shiekh Samad at his rally declared party president Hamidul Huq Chhana 'unwanted' in the district for his alleged 'misdeed and corruption' in last five years.

Terming Hamidul Huq a 'godfather of terrorists and drug traders' and toll collector, Shiekh Samad and other speakers at the rally demanded his arrest of Hamidul Huq and his 'muscleman' Sumon.

"We will publish a white paper on Hamidul Huq's corrupt practices and irregularities", said Sheikh Samad.

The district party committee led by Hamidul Huq is illegal as its tenure expired a year ago, Abdul Mannan Sarker, president of Gaibandha Sadar upazila BNP told the rally.

At the Shaheed Minar rally, Hamidul Huq claimed that the faction led by Chhana has no link with BNP. They were expelled long ago for their anti-party activities. So they have no right to hold any meeting under BNP banner, he said.

"BNP in Gaibandha is strong enough to face any challenge of 14-party alliance and that will be shown in the next general election", said Hamidul Huq.

The 14-party alliance is creating anarchy in the country and they should be faced boldly, he said.

The Shaheed Minar rally was also addressed by, among others, Saiful Alam Suja, Alamgir Sadullah Dudu, Kamrul Hasan Selim, Rafiqul Islam Liton, Rezaul Huq Chowdhury and Faozia Akhter.

Shiekh Samand Azad's rally in front of BNP office was also addressed by former lawmaker Rostom Ali Mollah, former district BNP secretary Anisuzzaman Khan Babu, Gausul Azam Dollar, Abdul Mannan Sarker, Habibur Rahman Bablu, Morshed Habib Sohel, district Jubo Dal convener Mahamudunnabi and JCD secretary Ahmed Seketur Rob.

Later both the groups brought out separate processions and paraded main roads of the town.

A Correspondent reported from Chandpur that two BNP factions held separate rallies in the town.

Five cocktails blasted at the bus stand, the meeting venue of the faction led by former lawmaker from Chandpur Sadar-Haimchar constituency SA Sultan Tito.

Though both the rallies were held under the banner of four-party alliance, no Jamaat-e-Islami leader was seen at any of the meetings, witnesses and party sources said. Police were deployed at both the meetings venues.

With Tito in the chair, the rally at bus stand was addressed by, among others, Abdul Hamid Master, JCD leaders Ibrahim Kazi and Aktar Hossain Maji, district Sramik Dal secretary Motaleb Khan and Khelafat Majlish leader Anwarul Karim.

The other faction led by 'rebel' leader district Jubo Dal convener Shafiq Bhuiyan held its meeting at Shapla Chattar.

District BNP vice-president Shafiuddin Ahmed presided. Alliance nomination seekers (from Chadpur Sadar-Haimchar constituency) Shafiq Bhuiyan and Sheikh Farid Ahmad Manik, SK Matiur Rahman and Abdur Rashid addressed the rally.

Speakers there demanded expulsion of SA Sultan Tito from the party for creating division in it in Chandpur. They also condemned 14-party's alleged anarchy and urged the people vote for BNP again for development of Chandpur.

Our Patuakhali Correspondent reported that two factions of BNP held separate rallies and brought out processions in Patuakhali town yesterday.

Patuakhali BNP is divided into two factions, one led by its president and former minister Altaf Hossain Chowdhury and the other by its secretary Snahansu Sarker Kutti and municipality chairman Moshtaq Ahmed.

Speakers at the rallies blamed their rivals for the division and accused them of anti-party activities.

The Altaf-led faction held its rally at New Market and then paraded the town streets. It was addressed by Altaf Hossain and party leader MA Rob, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Fakhruddin Khan Razi and Islami Oikya Jote (IOJ) leader Abdur Razzak.

The other faction held its rally at the old court complex ground and paraded streets.

It was addressed by, among others, Moshtaq Ahmed, Shahjahan Khan, Delwar Hossain, Monirul Alam Swapan, Alamgir Hossain, Bashir Uddin Mridha and Gazi Ashfaqur Rahman Biplop, a leader of BNP's student front Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD).

Party sources said the rift in BNP in Patuakhali has widened as both Altaf Hossain and Moshtaq Ahmed are seeking alliance nomination from Patuakhali-1 (Sadar-Mirzagonj and Dumki) constituency in coming election.