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Download PDF The BNP will not initiate any reforms in the party as long as its Chairperson Khaleda Zia is kept isolated from the leaders and workers.
The leaders and workers alike think that implementation of reforms is simply not possible in absence of the former premier. They said without her the party should not think of joining the dialogue on electoral reforms as well, said party insiders.
However, other sources say senior leaders are divided over the reforms issue as some stress that the top leadership should be changed immediately to have the party back on track while others say that ensuring a democratic system within the party should take precedence over the leadership issue. Besides, the damage control should also kick in.
Khaleda Zia, who is likely to visit Saudi Arabia next week to perform Umrah, will take decision regarding the reforms through discussion once the ban on indoor politics is lifted, said a party insider.
BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan told The Daily Star recently that there is no alternative to reforms. “And those will be carried out with Khaleda Zia very much at the helm,” he observed.
“The chairperson had already started some reforms but those are now suspended due to the government’s ban on politics,” he said, adding that they will go about the job after withdrawal of the ban.
Asked if the party will participate in the Election Commission’s dialogue on electoral reforms, Brigadier (retired) Hannan Shah, adviser to the BNP chairperson, told The Daily Star, “The party cannot do anything without the consent of its head.”
Major General (retired) ZA Khan, another adviser to Khaleda Zia, told The Daily Star, “The chairperson has already announced that the party would discipline those who would be found guilty of corruption and other crimes.”
He said, “We won’t accept any reforms or change without approval of Khaleda Zia.”
Welcoming the government’s press note on Khaleda, he said it will help the party go about introducing necessary reforms.
Meanwhile, differences of opinions among the leaders about the party leadership are growing with many of them preferring immediate changes to refurbish the image of the BNP and its leaders.
Others think the rank and file will never accept any changes if they are done without approval or involvement of Khaleda Zia.
Most of the leaders however reckon that it would be quite difficult for her to take any action against some of the leaders including her elder son and senior joint secretary general Tarique Rahman who stand accused of graft and different other crimes.
Dismissing the differences as rumours, Mannan Bhuiyan said, “There is no discontent or debate over the leadership as the party remains united under Khaleda Zia.”
Many leaders believe that the party should hold a council as soon as possible to reorganise itself and only Khaleda can ensure intra-party democracy if she wants.
They said changes especially in the standing committee and executive committee are the most imperative for the party to perk up.
As per the BNP constitution, the chairperson holds absolute power over party affairs. S/he is empowered to take any decision at any time and it all speaks of a dictatorial system. Most leaders want that power to be curtailed but that is not possible without holding a council.
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