Amid deepening infighting and expulsion and counter-expulsion, a faction of Gono Odhikar Parishad, led by Nurul Haque Nur, is holding a council to elect their new leadership.

The council began at the party's central office at Pritam Zaman Tower in the capital’s Purana Paltan area at 12pm.

The party’s 216 councillors will elect its future leadership through voting that will continue until 5pm.

Three candidates are contesting for the post of president and while five others for the post of general secretary.

Current Gono Odhikar Parishad member secretary Nurul Haque Nur, its leaders Bayezid Hossain Shahed and Nazam-us-Saqib are vying for the post of president.

The general secretary candidates are acting party convener Rashed Khan and its leaders Biplab Kumar Poddar, Mahfuzur Rahman Khan, Jilu Khan and Hasan Al Mamun.

On July 2nd, a four-member Election Management Board was formed to hold the election of the National Council and the Higher Council of the party.

Ariful Islam, Joint Convener of Gono Odhikar Parishad, was made the Chief Election Commissioner.

Earlier on Sunday, Nur said their party will be reawakened through the council. “It’ll be a very successful council.”

But Farooq Hasan, joint convener of Dr Reza Kibria-led faction of the party, alleged that Nur and his followers are holding the council illegally by force.