By Mizan Rahman
Dhaka

The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting secretary general, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, yesterday said the resignation of its vice-chairman Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury will not affect the party.
Talking to reporters in eastern Sylhet city, Fakhrul said BNP is a large political party and resignation of any individual will not make any impact on it. “People join, people quit, but the party is not
affected by it.”
On Thursday, BNP vice-chairman and former foreign secretary Shamsher M Chowdhury resigned from the party citing health reasons.
But party sources said he was “disappointed and upset” with the party high-ups, particularly with BNP’s senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman for his “undue” interference in party decisions in
recent months.
In an attack on the opposition party, ruling Awami League leader Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif said the BNP will fall apart for resorting to terrorism and siding with war criminals.
“ Khaleda Zia, you won’t be able to harm Sheikh Hasina’s government, no matter what conspiracies you and your son are hatching in London. The more your plots will get deeper, the greater your party will be affected,” he said, adding: “Your party has already started facing splits and it will fall apart. You just wait and see.”
About BNP leader Chowdhury’s resignation from his party, Hanif said no man of conscience can accept the terrorist acts BNP has carried out in recent times.
“Many people might have silently accepted these acts for their party post and position and personal gains; I believe there’re still many leaders who will desert the party as it took position in favour of war criminals.”
Refuting BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan’s allegation that the government is trying to split BNP, the ruling party leader said their party does not believe in the politics of breaking political parties.
Hanif also came down hard on Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) for terming the national parliament dysfunctional, and questioned the institution’s motive.
He alleged that TIB has demonstrated that it is in a drive to implement BNP’s agenda as part of a deep-
rooted conspiracy.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said the resignation of BNP vice chairman is an outcome of BNP’s negative politics. “Chowdhury’s resignation, I think, is a frustrating exposure of BNP’s negative politics.”