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Download PDF Both the factions in the BNP now have their eyes on the Election Commission’s (EC) invitation for the talks on electoral reforms since the call is likely to stamp the recipient as the mainstream at this point in time.
Leaders loyal to detained Chairperson Khaleda Zia plan to inform the EC about the latest changes in the party’s line-up. In a letter, they would also request the commission to correspond with the newly appointed secretary general for any official purpose.
“We will take legal measures if the Election Commission sends the invitation meant for the BNP to its expelled secretary general,” Rizvi Ahmed, assistant office secretary of the party, told The Daily Star after meeting Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain.
On the other hand, those united in favour of expelled secretary general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan have initiated measures to prove themselves as the mainline of the party by marshalling leaders and workers down to the grassroots level.
They think getting the EC’s invitation will amount to being recognised as the real BNP now.
“We represent the original BNP. We hope the commission will send the invitation for us to join the dialogue since most of the leaders and workers are with us and we have been working sincerely towards reforms,” Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, a pro-reform standing committee member of the BNP, told The Daily Star yesterday.
Asked whether they would send any letter to the EC, Mahbubur said they would discuss the matter today.
Meantime, the EC, which has already begun sending out invitations to the secretary-generals or general secretaries of the 15 parties chosen for the talks, is not sure which of the BNP factions should have the call, said sources in the commission.
Election Commissioner Muhammed Sohul Hussain yesterday told The Daily Star, “We still have time to think things over.” In the schedule unveiled last week, the BNP is slotted in for the dialogue on November 22.
“We will send invitation to the parties some 15 days before the scheduled date. We hope the situation will work out by this time,” he said referring to the crisis in the immediate past ruling party.
Asked if the matter is not settled then which of the factions they would choose for the talks, Sohul said he cannot say anything about it now. “We will take a decision when the time comes,” he added.
Khandaker Delwar Hossain yesterday said that in no way can the EC send Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan the official letter inviting the BNP to the dialogue.
“He [Bhuiyan] doesn’t belong to the party anymore. He cannot represent us at any forum,” the new secretary general told reporters yesterday.
But Mahbubur Rahman, a pro-reform leader, said they have already rejected the chairperson’s decision to expel Bhuiyan from the party.
“We have cleared our position Monday. Most of the former lawmakers are with us,” he said.
Besides making statements against each other, both the factions have started contacting the senior leaders and those at the grassroots level to strengthen their camp.
The pro-reform group spearheaded by Bhuiyan thinks they deserve the administration’s backing as they are “committed to bringing reforms in the party as well as politics in general”.
Leaders still siding with the chairperson think those at the grassroots level will never allow Bhuiyan to split the party, keeping Khaleda Zia in jail.
September 6th, 2007 at 12:04 am
To DR. Faker Uddin ,CTG & Dr. Kamal Hussain & all honest leaders of BNP AL & others.
Time is calling you all to unite & remove Dynesty dom in Bangladesh.
We all have seen enough evils and poverty of politics. Party Leaders should be reselected
with minus two theories.
Crime listed persons cannot remain as leaders of the parties.Be they Chairpersons or presidents.
Remove the photos of ZIA & Mujib from all Public
places. Display name of ALLAH & Quran.
Be just to all , be honest to country,
Bring social justice , Bring economic strength through collective efforts.
Revise salary scales for all Govt servents for a better living.
Introduce Incentive rules to all industrial workers. Give them extra Bonus on Eid Festivals.
Grant subsidies to all essential items: Foods & medicine so that poor can also afford a piece of Fish & meat & a handful of rice & wear a dress.
Make the people’s living meaningful & worthwhile.
Donot laugh alone living all poor in hunger.
Create special Banks to grant low cost loans to people needy & honest ones.
Introduce free education to Middle School level.
Introduce training/ craft (plumbing, carpentery, brick work and the like free of cost to needy people.
Create a new history in Bangladesh so that Govt of the people, for the people make a golden history for all the time.
This could be done with your cooperation along with the care taker Government who have honest will, and by the Grace of ALLAH you will succed!
Thank you.