No unity meeting as Saifur falls sick

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M Saifur Rahman, acting chairman appointed by the standing committee, yesterday urged the pro-Khaleda leaders to accept intra-party reforms, reinstate those expelled, and shun the practice of selling nominations in the interests of a united BNP.

In a day or two, he and Khandakar Delwar Hossain, secretary general appointed by Chairperson Khaleda Zia, might meet to discuss different issues relating to reconciliation.

Insiders say despite efforts a meeting between the two stalwarts could not be held last night as the former finance minister was feeling sick.

The faction led by Delwar, meantime, remains rigid in their stance against return of the expelled leaders including Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan.

Sources said Delwar-Saifur meet would seek to get rid of these roadblocks.

Talking to reporters earlier in the day, Saifur said, “I told them [Delwar-led group] that reforms have to be accepted and those expelled reinstated.”

He added, “I’m one of the founding members of the party and I would never do anything that might break it up.”

Nominations must not be given in return for large sums of money, observed the former finance minister.

“Reforms are not about Awami League or BNP. It is a national agenda,” he noted adding that a lot of institutions here are in immediate need of reforms.

Pro-Khaleda leaders maintain that they have no objection to Saifur and others coming back into the fold.

A former lawmaker close to Delwar told The Daily Star, “We have no problem with Saifur and others returning, but the fate of Bhuiyan and his followers rests on the chairperson.”

Most of those in Saifur-led faction want to reunite keeping aboard all including Bhuiyan and Ashraf Hossain, who were expelled from the party by Khaleda Zia but reinstated as members by the standing committee.

On Friday, acting office secretary Rizvi Ahmed met Saifur Rahman to discuss how to go about reconciliation. Delwar sent Rizvi to Saifur in response to the former finance minister’s proposal for discussion on how to settle the disputes.

Meanwhile, leaders loyal to the former prime minister yesterday met to discuss the latest developments. They talked about Khaleda Zia’s endorsing that the committee led by Delwar is indeed hers.

The detained BNP chief communicated the message through her lawyer Mahbub Uddin Khokon Friday.

According to the lawyer, she has called on everyone to work for the unity and said the party must stay united for the sake of the country, its independence and sovereignty.

Sources said the BNP secretary general has talked to Khokon and criticised him for not having his permission before going public with Khaleda’s views.

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