POBNEWS24,Dhaka Dec 29, 2021: Sylhet City Corporation Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury in a speech insulted the Awami League, the leaders and activists of a section of the district and metropolitan Awami League. The leaders and activists of the district and metropolitan Awami League have announced that they will not take part in the civic reception given to Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on behalf of the city corporation.
The reception started at around 3.15 pm on Wednesday and continued till 5.30 pm.
I don’t know why they decided not to come. This is the civic reception of the Foreign Minister. It is not organized by any party, it is organized by City Corporation.
MP and Foreign Minister of Sylhet-1 (Metropolitan and Sadar) constituency Abdul Momen was given a reception on the occasion. Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury presided over the function. Top leaders including president and general secretary of Sylhet district and metropolitan Awami League were not seen on stage with the foreign minister. However, Awami League Central Committee Organizing Secretary Shafiul Alam Chowdhury and several Awami League councilors were seen on the stage.
Speaking to local leaders and activists, it is learned that BNP central executive committee member and mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury took part in a memorial service at Moulvibazar on September 5 on the death anniversary of former finance minister M Saifur Rahman. At that time, it was alleged that he had insulted the Awami League in his speech. Later, local Awami League leaders and activists issued a statement urging the mayor to withdraw his statement and apologize. However, since Ariful did not do so, now the local level leaders and workers of the party have decided not to attend the reception of the foreign minister organized on his initiative.
When asked, Mahanagar Awami League president Masuk Uddin Ahmed said that the words uttered by the mayor about Awami League were asked to be withdrawn. Monthly water bills have more than doubled. That too was demanded to be withdrawn. But he did not address it. That is why the Awami League has boycotted the meeting organized on his initiative.
Masuk Uddin Ahmed said, “We have boycotted the meeting held by the mayor, not the reception of the foreign minister. So we were with the foreign minister at other times, including the reception at the airport, except during the reception.
Sylhet District Awami League Acting President Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury said they were not against the reception of the Foreign Minister; Instead, they are against the activities of Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury. He has recently criticized the Awami League and is taking various anti-people decisions. In protest, they have decided not to attend the meeting organized by the mayor.
In this regard, Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury told Prothom Alo, ‘I don’t know why they have decided not to come to the event. This is the civic reception of the Foreign Minister. It is not organized by any party, it is organized by City Corporation. All political organizations including Awami League and professional, social and civic organizations have been invited by the City Corporation. How can I say why they (A-League) will not come even after receiving the invitation? I hope they will come. ‘
