Bhuiyan holds one-to-one meeting with Khaleda

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BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan met his party chairperson and former prime minister Khaleda Zia yesterday at her cantonment residence in the capital.

But security personnel did not allow BNP Joint Secretary General Nazrul Islam Khan, and former lawmakers Shirin Sultana, Rehana Akhtar Ranu and Bilkis Jahan Shirin to visit their party chief’s residence, according to a party source.

Adviser to the BNP Chairperson Maj Gen (retd) ZA Khan also met the former prime minister separately yesterday.

Mannan Bhuiyan entered Khaleda Zia’s residence around 7:00pm. Various issues came up in the discussion during their 45-minute one-to-one meeting.

That was Mannan Bhuiyan’s first meeting with Khaleda Zia since the military backed interim government through a press note denied the authenticity of media reports that it had put restrictions on her movement. Bhuiyan however did not agree to disclose any detail of the meeting to journalists.

He just told the reporters at his Gulshan residence, “It was a courtesy call during which she [Khaleda Zia] wanted to know about BNP leaders, activists and lawmakers across the country. I informed her as much as I know.”

He also said Khaleda expressed her gratitude to her party leaders and activists, and to the people for praying for her wellbeing.

But when the reporters asked whether they discussed Hannan Shah’s speeches, Mannan Bhuiyan kept mum and returned to his apartment.

Earlier, Mannan Bhuiyan was present with Khaleda Zia at the grave of late president Ziaur Rahman on April 1. But in the last three weeks there was no communication between the two, as according to BNP leaders, Khaleda Zia was virtually under house arrest during the period.

Last week Brig Gen (retd) Hannan Shah repeatedly claimed that Khaleda Zia had told him that she will bring changes to the ranks of the party leadership including to the post of the secretary general. But other leaders of the party told reporters that Khaleda Zia will convey her message through a proper person designated by herself.

Mannan Bhuiyan did not tell the reporters yesterday whether he discussed Hannan with the party chairperson, although the reporters threw a volley of questions towards him regarding the matter.

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