Bhuiyan, his followers trying to find way back into party, claims Delwar

FE Team | Published: October 28, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain Saturday claimed that expelled leader Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and his associates are now trying to find different ways to return to the party, report bdnews24.com and UNB.
They will not be able to return through byways. If they want to return to the party they will have to do so by following the party constitution. In the past, many like them were brought back to the party, he told the reporters at his NAM apartment.
He said, BNP is united. Those who are now speaking of unity are actually searching a way to return to the party.
The secretary general, however, did not elaborate on the proposal or when and how it had been made.
His remarks came in the wake of showing strength on their respective sides by the numbers of former MPs siding with them, and Bhuiyan's latest statement that he wants both unity and reform of the immediate-past ruling party.
"Bhuiyan was the party secretary general for 11 years. He was also a minister. He knows how those that had been expelled in the past returned to the party. He can follow the process. There is nothing to show off."
"Those who are in the pro-reform camp have been held there under duress and intimidation. The crowd is gradually thinning there. In future none will remain with them," Delwar said.
He said, the BNP chairperson expelled Bhuiyan, and appointed him secretary general of the party. "I have no authority to lift the expulsion order."
Delwar questioned why Bhuiyan did not say earlier that he wants both unity and reform in BNP keeping Khaleda as chairperson.
Referring to the obstruction to his planned visit to the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (R) in Sylhet Friday, he said, it was his family programme, but the government deliberately obstructed him. "As a Muslim it is my fundamental right to offer fateha at the mazar."
On the debate over Jamaat Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mujahid's statement about war criminals, Delwar said, "All know that there were rajakars, al-shams and other anti-liberation elements during the Liberation War of 1971."
"However, it needs to be seen on what context he (Mujahid) said this. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had granted amnesty to the war criminals."
Asked if his party would go for unity with Jamaat, the BNP leader said, most of the parties made unity with Jamaat after the Independence. In the future, anyone can take decision considering the situation ahead of the election.
Earlier, a Jubo Dal delegation, headed by its general secretary Moazzem Hossain Alal, met Delwar, and discussed with him observance of the founding anniversary of the youth front of BNP.
BNP joint secretary general Gayeswar Chandra Roy and ex-MPs Khairul Kabir Khokon, Abdul Momen, Nurul Kabir Shaheen, Abul Hossain Khan and Mohammad Shajahan were also present on the occasion.
Goyeshwar, in his speech on the occasion said, "Bhuiyan was not elected secretary general. The decision of his expulsion was constitutional. He was expelled in the same way he had been appointed as secretary general.
Meanwhile, BNP chairperson's Adviser Hannan Shah said, it seemed that good sense had prevailed upon the pro-reform leaders at last, and they now wanted to return to BNP.
"But it must be ascertained whether their good sense is temporary or permanent. Their mindset and stance must be scrutinised before they are allowed to return to BNP," he said talking to the reporters at his new DOHS residence.