Mahbubur demands Khaleda's exit as BNP chief

---

Retired Lt General Mahbubur Rahman Sunday demanded resignation of Khaleda Zia from BNP as chairperson, reports bdnews24.com.
According to him, Khaleda Zia has lost the legitimacy to remain political chief of the party.
The BNP standing committee member and former army chief spoke exclusively with the news agency at his old DOHS home Sunday.
Rahman made his remarks citing the example of Indian Congress party leader Sonia Gandhi, who voluntarily did not take up the post of prime minister. He said Khaleda Zia should follow her example by retiring willingly.
He also claimed that there was no division within the BNP: "The leaders and workers want to cleanse the party through reform. However, no one can break the party. All members have respect for Shaheed Zia."
"The present BNP has deviated from the ideals of Shaheed Zia. Zia never allowed corruption, nepotism or establishment of any dynastic system. The information extracted by law enforcing agencies from arrested ministers, MPs and leaders, published in the media, is tarnishing BNP's image."
Rahman also put forward some proposals for reform within the party. His proposals include reduction of power wielded by the party chief, provision for running the party under joint leadership, registering the party with the Election Commission, publication of an annual financial statement from the party, mandatory system for electing leaders from grassroots level through elections and cancellation of party membership for the corrupt.
"In order to make decisions on these matters it has become imperative to amend the party constitution. Now that a question has arisen over the legality of the present leadership, the party chairperson should relinquish the post.
"I hope the chairperson will realise the expectations of the party leaders and workers."
Rahman, widely regarded in the BNP as being pro-reform, said: "A complete reform is necessary to remove the degradation and criminalisation that has eaten up politics."
Citing the People's Republic of China as an example, Rahman continued: "Deng Xiao Peng's complete reform programme has resulted in the growth of China as a superpower. Reform is the greatest power China has."
Praising the armed forces for cooperating with the caretaker government, the former army chief said: "Our armed forces were born during the Liberation War. During all disasters the patriotic army stood by the people. If there had been a one-sided election on Jan 22, the country would have plunged into a bloody civil war."
Meanwhile, BNP secretary general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan held a meeting with party standing committee member M Saifur Rahman Sunday, against the backdrop of hectic discussions on the party's reform initiatives.
Sources said the two leaders discussed the draft of the party's reform proposal at the meeting held at Saifur Rahman's Gulshan home, Jalalabad House.
Party vice-chairman Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf was also present for some time at the hour-long meeting.