I want unity in BNP without dropping Khaleda: Bhuiyan

FE Team | Published: October 27, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

Apparently changing his stance, expelled BNP secretary general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan Friday said he did never want to reform BNP or seek unity by dropping chairperson Khaleda Zia, reports UNB.
"We also stated that with the permission of the chairperson, we would hold party council and bring about the needed reforms with her permission," he told reporters after a meeting with party's ex-MPs at his Gulshan house.
Bhuiyan held the meeting with 21 former MPs a day after BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain held such a meeting with the party's 32 former MPs.
He said the meeting was not formal as he planned to hold a formal meeting in the first week of next month and expects more than 100 former MPs of BNP will turn up.
Bhuiyan was summarily sacked from the post of secretary general and his primary membership was also cancelled by Khaleda on September 2, a day before she was arrested in a corruption case.
"While we had presented reform proposals we sought unity and now we want unity too," Bhuiyan said.
However, sticking to his stand for reforms in BNP, he said since general elections are nearing, there is no alternative to reforms and unity of all leaders and workers of the party.
He said reform proposals he made are not final. A committee will be formed before the party's council session. The committee will have to be informed if there are more proposals. The committee will finalise all the proposals and place before the council for approval.
Referring to the former MPs, who met Delwar Hossain Thursday, Bhuiyan said those ex-MPs went to him to extend cooperation in the unity process.
"We don't want rift or division in the party. We hope, we will unite together and unitedly go to the BNP central office. If we go together, the office will be opened," he said.
Bhuiyan said alliance could be formed with any party to win the election. BNP is the party of election and it will have to take part in local body elections.
He urged BNP leaders and workers to prepare for municipal and upazila parishad elections.
Referring to Jamaat secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid's claim that there is no war criminals in the country, Bhuiyan said in 1971 there were anti-liberation `rajakars', `Al Shams', but after the Independence those assumed power had declared general amnesty and did not hold trial of them.
He urged the Election Commission to arrange the election as soon as possible on completion of voter list and assured BNP's cooperation in completing the voter list.