Ruling Awami League (AL) high command appears not to be concerned about serious intra-party disputes in Chittagong and dismisses the feud as the "nature of Chittagong politics". Party insiders say Prime Minister and AL chief Sheikh Hasina believes the disputes between the AL factions in the port city would "automatically disappear in due time".

Currently, the AL's Chittagong politics is divided into two major factions -- anti and pro-ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, mayor of Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) and city unit president of the party. Besides, there are some other minor factions led by different leaders as well as lawmakers of the ruling party. Sources say Hasina did not take any initiative to bring an end to the longstanding disputes in Chittagong even after the matter came at Saturday's meeting of the AL Central Working Committee (ALCWC) for immediate solution. Insiders say AL presidium member Ataur Rahman Khan Kaiser raised the issue at the meeting held at Hasina's political office in Dhanmondi. He also suggested that the high command solve the crisis for the greater interests of the party.

AL stalwart and lawmaker of Chittagong-1 constituency Engineer Mosharraf Hossain told the meeting that if Kaiser, as the leader of the party's highest policymaking body, sits with the rival factions, there is a chance to resolve the problems. At that point, Hasina told the meeting Chittagong politics of AL has been what it was since her childhood, sources say. Talking to The Daily Star, some of the party leaders said the crisis would not be resolved soon due to the high command's "reluctance".

The port city conflict came to forefront after ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury took an initiative to bring five unions -- Charpathar Ghata, Charlaxma, Baro Uthan, Shikolbaha and Jaldi -- of Chittagong-12 constituency under the city corporation. Bigwig AL leader Akhtaruzzaman Chowdhury Babu was elected from this constituency. Mohiuddin is now making a hectic move to bring the unions under CCC saying a fresh move was taken to this end as a gazette notification was issued during the previous AL government.

Sources say Babu, backed by some other lawmakers and central leaders, has been trying hard to stop the move. Even the AL lawmaker attacked Mohiuddin's rally organised at a union to create awareness about the outcomes of bringing the unions under CCC. Besides, Mohiuddin's holding meeting with controversial BNP stalwart Salauddin Quader Chowdhury has also hit the fire simultaneously as most of the lawmakers from different Chittagong constituencies including Eng Mosharraf Hossain, Nurul Islam BSC, among others, demanded expulsion of the CCC mayor from the party.

Talking to The Daily Star, AL presidium member Ataur Rahman Kaiser said, "I suggest that the party high command form an ad-hoc committee to solve the longstanding problems of the party there." He said, "It seems that we won't be able to solve the crisis." He said the Chittagong AL stalwarts would have to compromise among them to put an end to the crisis to strengthen the organisational capacity.

Terming the mayor's move to bring the unions under CCC the main cause for the current disputes, the veteran leader said it would solely depend on the people of those unions whether they want to go under the metropolis. He said the prime minister has told the ALCWC meeting that her government would give additional money for development of the unions only if those are brought under city corporations.

-Daily Star