Nasir Uddin Chowdhury, the BNP member of parliament for the Sunamganj-2 constituency covering Dirai and Shalla, addressed a BNP gathering in Dirai on 6 August.
Chowdhury said the Awami League was not an enemy of the BNP but an ally, referring to their joint role in the Liberation War.
He said he expected the Awami League to merge with the BNP soon, without outlining how such a development would occur.
The gathering was organised by the Dirai upazila and municipal units of the BNP.
Chowdhury described the event as the BNP’s main rally in Dirai.
He said those planning another rally under the BNP banner on 8 August were seeking to create division in the party and urged supporters to remain alert.
Masuk Chowdhury, identified as the MP’s younger brother and a joint convener of the upazila BNP, had called the separate 8 August gathering amid an openly reported family dispute in local BNP politics.
Chowdhury said he had no brother and alleged that his home had been taken from him.
He alleged that people unable to benefit from theft or corruption in the party’s name were conducting a false campaign against him.
Responding to allegations that he had misappropriated large sums, Chowdhury challenged critics to verify the size of local budget allocations with the upazila executive officer.
He said he would not allow anyone to engage in corruption while he remained alive.