Reformists take control of BNP central office amid tight security

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The reformist BNP faction took control of the party headquarters as the office at Naya Paltan in the city reopened Wednesday after over a 10-month closure since the declaration of the state of emergency in the country on January 11, reports UNB.
Party sources said Dhaka city BNP president and mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka and general secretary Abdus Salam first unlocked the office at about 10:20 am, as police provided a security umbrella lest the party rivals should put up resistance.
Acting secretary general of BNP Major (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed entered the office at about 10:50 am while acting chairperson M Saifur Rahman arrived at the office at about 11:35 am.
Some other pro-reform BNP leaders also attended the office, in a radically changed situation. They include BNP chairperson's advisers Mofazzal Karim, ZA Khan and MA Hakim, former MPs SA Sultan, Shah Abul Hossain, Delwar Hossain Dulu, Ziaul Haq Mollah, Abdul Alim, Reza Ahmed Bachhu, Fazlul Azim, Ataur Rahman Angur and Tasnim Rana.
Former secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain, who was controversially installed by party chief Khaleda Zia, also went to the office, but the police stopped him at the gate.
Hundreds of party leaders and workers from both the factions of the immediate-past ruling party thronged the party central office premises from the morning as huge police guards were deployed in the area to avoid any untoward incident.
Witnesses said some supporters of the detained party chief and ex-prime minister (PM), Khaleda Zia, hurled abuses at their dissident colleagues. 'Traitor, thief',' they shouted as Saifur and Hafiz entered the office.
The Khaleda faithfuls also chanted slogans demanding immediate release of the BNP chairperson, arrested and detained amid a political purge launched against the backdrop of the recent political crisis.
Police chased the protesters off the BNP central office area. They arrested Jubo Dal leader Kuddus Khan, organising secretary of Mohammadpur thana unit of the party youth front, in front of the office as he chanted slogans against the Saifur-Hafez duo and demanded Khaleda's release.
Later, Saifur and Hafiz talked to newsmen at 12.00 noon and left the office at about 12:30 pm. "We have come to our own office for work here-we are only doing our duties in the absence of Khaleda Zia," both said during the briefing.