ASHIK ABDULLAH APU with SUSHANTA GHOSH

The recent photograph of Abul Hasnat Abdulalh hugging his younger brother Abul Khair Abdullah brought some relief to the grassroot Awami League leaders and activists of Barishal as they thought it was an indication of them uniting ahead of the city polls.

But the real picture is different because the AL failed to unite the two factions and get the Hasnat-led faction to work for Abul Khair Abdullah, the AL mayor candidate in Barishal city. Rather, with the election nearing, the rift between the two brothers over the party mayor nominee is widening, said locals.

Hasnat’s son is incumbent BCC Mayor Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah.