Natore district BNP has recommended to central BNP to decide whether Abdul Aziz, lawmaker for Natore-4 (Gurudaspur-Baraigram) constituency, will retain his party position, after an eight-hour meeting failed to reach a consensus.
The development was confirmed by Natore district BNP during a press conference held at the District Council Auditorium on Friday.
Aziz serves as senior joint convener of Natore district BNP, and under the party constitution, the district committee cannot expel him from his party position, as confirmed by Asaduzzaman Asad, member secretary of Natore district BNP.
Recently, an objectionable video allegedly involving Aziz spread on social media platform Facebook, leading Natore district BNP to form an investigation committee.
In addition, his son, Nuruzzaman Mintu, is an accused in the murder case of Shakil Islam, a Chhatra Dal leader, and is currently in prison following a period of remand.
A succession of incidents involving the father and son, including vandalism and looting, has sparked widespread criticism and intense debate across the country and within political circles, with many demanding the resignation of Abdul Aziz from his post as member of parliament and the execution by hanging of his son.
A source within district BNP claimed that the objectionable video of Abdul Aziz is authentic and has created a moral lapse, adversely affecting BNP.
To determine a course of action regarding the situation, Natore district BNP convened a meeting on Friday morning with members of the district committee in attendance.
The meeting lasted for eight hours, but no decision could be reached.
During the session, detailed discussions took place regarding the allegations of involvement against Mintu, who remains in prison following remand in the Shakil murder case, as well as the viral video of Aziz.
After recent events were formally presented and members shared their views, the committee reviewed the party constitution and decided against taking organisational action against Abdul Aziz at the district level.
Instead, they reached a decision to formally submit the overall matter to central BNP.
Asaduzzaman Asad, member secretary of Natore district BNP, said that they discussed all the incidents during the meeting.
He explained that to the committee, Abdul Aziz is identified as senior joint convener of the district as well as a member of parliament.
Asad added that according to the constitution, the district committee lacks the power to take action against any joint convener, and members unanimously left any decision regarding future action to the high command of the party.
Meanwhile, in the Shakil Islam murder case, Detective Branch (DB) police produced arrested accused Nuruzzaman Mintu before court on Friday following a three-day remand and requested a further seven-day remand.
DB police also arrested two more individuals on suspicion of involvement in the murder.
Confirming the matter, Md Nazrul Islam, officer-in-charge (OC) of district Detective Branch police, said Mintu had been taken on a three-day remand over his alleged involvement in the killing of Chhatra Dal leader Shakil.
He added that upon the conclusion of the three-day remand on Friday, the accused was produced in court with a petition for a seven-day remand.
Although the judge accepted the remand application, no hearing took place, and the court directed that the accused be sent to prison.
No date has been fixed for the hearing on the remand application.
