Withdraw invite or face legal action

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Brig Gen (retd) Hannan Shah yesterday said if the Election Commission (EC) does not reverse its decision to have Saifur-led faction in the electoral talks, they would have recourse to legal measures in a day or two.

An adviser to the BNP chairperson, he said there would be serious doubt in public mind about the conduct of a free and fair election if the commission refuses to invite Khandakar Delwar Hossain, the secretary general appointed by Khaleda Zia, to the dialogue.

Talking to reporters at his Mohakhali residence, Hannan claimed they have already received the detained chairperson’s nod to go to court.

Party insiders said Khandaker Delwar yesterday talked to a group of lawyers in preparation for opening a legal battle against the EC decision.

On the other hand, leaders of Saifur camp including its acting secretary general Maj (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed yesterday met at the former finance minister’s residence to discuss the developments.

Meanwhile, both the factions have decided to observe the ‘national revolution and solidarity day’ today.

Hinting at Major (retd) Hafiz, the pro-Khaleda faction yesterday said “those who were involved in the arrest of late president Ziaur Rahman in 1975 would not be allowed to offer prayers at the BNP founder’s grave”.

Earlier, Hannan Shah alleged that Hafiz went to Zia’s house to arrest him during the tumultuous events in November, 1975. But the acting secretary general of BNP-Saifur denied the allegation.

The BNP chairperson’s adviser yesterday said Saifur-Hafiz group had attempted to hijack the party leadership with assistance from certain quarters but the leaders and workers have rejected them.

He alleged that even the statement issued after the controversial standing committee meeting on October 29 was not prepared by the leaders but by a former bureaucrat. He however declined to disclose the name.

Hannan claimed, “We are the mainstream BNP and Khandaker Delwar Hossain is our secretary general.”

Asked what if the Saifur-led BNP gets the traditional sheaf of paddy as the election symbol, he said they would seek court orders to make sure that does not happen.

Describing the standing committee meeting at Saifur’s house as illegal, he said it was not the BNP standing committee, rather some individuals belonging to the committee who had been forced to sit together and sign a blank paper.

“A conspiracy is on against the nationalist force and the Election Commission has a role in it,” he said adding that the grassroots level leaders did not accept the EC decision.

NOVEMBER 7 PROGRAMMES
Both the factions will lay floral wreaths at Ziaur Rahman’s grave today. Pro-Khaleda leaders will go there at 10:30am. Later in the evening they will hold a discussion at 66, Kakrail.

Saifur led group too announced a number of programmes to mark the day. They will hoist national and BNP flags at party offices and a hold a discussion at Spectra Convention Centre in Gulshan.

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