Bangladesh News

Khandaker Delwar Hossain, the chairperson-appointed secretary general of BNP, yesterday made a call for unity in the party, saying that the party would soon announce programmes to free its chairperson Khaleda Zia.

Meanwhile, Maj (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed, the rival acting secretary general of pro-Saifur faction of the party, yesterday said the Election Commission (EC) has recognised him as the lawful secretary general of the party and he would seek to visit detained Chairperson Khaleda after receiving letter for dialogue from the EC.

However Delwar, while speaking with reporters following a meeting with the recently elected delegates of Barisal Bar Association, dismissed Hafiz’s claim of being the lawful secretary general of the party. The verdict of the High Court in fact did not specify who the lawful secretary general of the party is, Delwar added.

“The party will run according to the instructions of its chairperson and its constitution,” he said adding, “One cannot be a leader simply with a court verdict or a certificate.”

A vested group is out to destroy BNP, but they will not succeed as the party is united under the leadership of Khaleda Zia, Delwar reiterated.

BNP Joint Secretary General Selima Rahman, Law Affairs Secretary Joynul Abedin, Barisal unit BNP Secretary General Nazrul Islam Rajon and its former general secretary Obaidul Haque Chan spoke during the meeting among others.

Maj (retd) Hafiz in the meantime urged Delwar and other standing committee members of the party to take a clear stance for freeing the party from “pollution”.

The selfless leaders of the party are being ignored as the party was being run by “pocket committees”, using Khaleda’s name, said Hafiz while addressing leaders and workers of a faction of Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, the youth front of BNP, led by Jubo Dal Senior Vice President Ali Akkas Nadim at his Banani residence.

Reforms in the party need to be implemented urgently for democracy in the party, Hafiz said emphasising the need for electing committees at all levels of the party.

An elected committee of Jubo Dal would be formed in the future as per the constitution of the party, he added.