Ukhiya, Aug 23 (V7N) – The long-awaited biennial council and conference of the Ukhiya Upazila unit of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) concluded successfully on Friday, August 22. Popular grassroots leader Sarwar Jahan Chowdhury was elected president, and veteran political activist Sultan Mahmud Chowdhury was elected general secretary—both unopposed.

The council took place at the Ukhiya Government Primary School field and was inaugurated by former Member of Parliament for Ukhiya-Teknaf and President of the Cox’s Bazar District BNP, Alhaj Shahjahan Chowdhury. The event was presided over by Sarwar Jahan Chowdhury himself, with Sultan Mahmud Chowdhury acting as moderator.

The chief guest at the event was BNP’s Chattogram Divisional Organizing Secretary Mahbuber Rahman Shamim. Among others who addressed the gathering were Advocate Shamim Ara Swapna, ATM Nurul Bashar Chowdhury, Cox’s Bazar District BNP Office Secretary Yusuf Badri, Assistant Organizing Secretary MA Moktar, former Office Secretary of Ukhiya BNP Selim Siraji, Convener of the Ukhiya Labor Front Abdul Malek, and Ukhiya Farmers’ Wing Secretary Sadman Jami Chowdhury.

Toward the end of the conference, after consulting with district BNP leaders Shahjahan Chowdhury and Advocate Shamim Ara Swapna, and due to the absence of alternative candidates, Sarwar Jahan Chowdhury and Sultan Mahmud Chowdhury were declared elected as president and general secretary, respectively.

In his speech, Mahbuber Rahman Shamim praised the unity of local BNP members, saying that the people of Ukhiya prefer grassroots leaders. He noted that although Sarwar Jahan was once elected Union Chairman, he was obstructed from carrying out his duties due to what he described as a repressive regime. The council, he said, was proof that BNP’s leadership in Ukhiya is becoming more organized and resilient.

He also demanded legal action against former Teknaf-Ukhiya MP Abdur Rahman Bodi, citing his alleged involvement in corruption and misgovernance.

The day-long event drew large processions from various unions, with enthusiastic party members filling the streets, alleys, and the council grounds with banners, placards, and party slogans. Roads across Ukhiya were decorated with posters and festoons to mark the occasion.

Local leaders and activists considered the unopposed election of Sarwar and Sultan as a natural and widely accepted decision, given their longstanding loyalty to the party during challenging times.

END/SIU/SMA/