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Download PDF The move for keeping the BNP united through restructuring is facing obstacles due to pro-Khaleda Zia leaders’ latest firm stance on the initiative, forcing the initiators to postpone a scheduled meeting twice.
A number of senior BNP leaders working for party unity convened a secret meeting on Friday in the capital that was to be followed by a dinner. But the meeting was cancelled as leaders loyal to detained party Chairperson Khaleda Zia refused to attend it, highly placed sources in the party said.
BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain, who is now leading the party in the absence of its chairperson, on Friday morning left Dhaka for Sylhet reportedly to visit the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) and Hazrat Shah Poran (RA) to avoid the meeting of party policymakers. He was however barred from visiting the shrines.
The meeting was later rescheduled for today but it was cancelled last night as pro- Khaleda leaders did not agree to hold talks with leaders working for party reforms without the party chief’s consent, sources said.
Some senior BNP leaders have initiated a move to resolve discord among the party leaders over reforms through appointment of a new secretary general as the first step.
Delwar had initially supported the move but later opposed it since Khaleda did not consent to replacing him as BNP secretary general, party insiders said.
Expelled party secretary general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and his associates are now trying to find various ways to return to the party, Delwar claimed yesterday.
“They will not be able to get back through byways. If they really want to return, they must follow the BNP constitution,” he told reporters.
On the other hand, Bhuiyan has clarified his stance on the appointment of Delwar as BNP secretary general by Khaleda on September 2 following his expulsion.
In reply to a question, Bhuiyan said he has been expelled in an undemocratic way and that is why he does not accept the expulsion.
Some senior leaders who are working with Bhuiyan for party reforms said it is not possible to strengthen the party keeping Delwar in his present post.
“They have expressed frustration over the latest situation concerning party unity and are now searching for options to overcome this,” said one leader.
“It is difficult to predict how much time it will take to bridge the gap. Only time will say,” a BNP standing committee member said yesterday on condition of anonymity.
Asked why they failed to sit for unity talks on Friday, the committee member who is a former minister, said the luncheon meeting could not be held as many of those concerned did not want to attend it. Leaders working for party unity will speak openly about the outcome in time, he added.
Talking to The Daily Star yesterday, another standing committee member said they have moved for party unity much before the scheduled time for electoral reforms talks with the Election Commission (EC) so that a united BNP can join the talks. “But the situation is getting complicated, and possibility of removing the discord soon is slim unless any miracle happens,” he said.
The BNP is scheduled to sit with the EC for electoral reforms talks on November 22. The EC as per its decision will send invitation to the BNP secretary general at least 15 days before the timetable, asking him to send a party delegation for the talks.
But the EC is yet to announce whether Bhuiyan or Delwar will get the invitation.
In reply to a question, a senior BNP leader, who has been working for unity and reforms in the party, said he believes Delwar will not get the EC’s invitation. “Many things can happen in next one week,” he added.
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