Saifur against any precondition for BNP unity talks

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BNP acting chairman Saifur Rahman said Sunday unity talks in BNP must be held without any precondition, as he rejects party secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain's condition that for any reconciliation, Saifur must dismantle his committee, reports UNB.
"We want unity, but Delwar is against it. How Delwar, who does not even believe in Begum Zia's message, could want unity in BNP," Saifur told reporters at his Gulshan house where nearly two dozen former party MPs attended a meeting.
Recently, detained BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, reportedly sent a message through her counsel for forging unity of BNP that split over the question of leadership and reforms within the party.
But, setting a condition for unity, Delwar had asked the pro-reform Saifur-Hafiz group to cancel the October 29 standing committee's decision empowering Saifur as acting chairman and Haifizuddin Ahmed as acting secretary general of BNP.
Four standing committee members, who attended the October 29 meeting organized for having 'a cup of tea' at Saifur's house, did not attend the meeting at Saifur's house Sunday. They are RA Gani, Tanvir Ahmed Siddiqui, M Shamusl Islam and Khandaker Mahbubuddin Ahmed.
Those who attended the meeting included Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf, Rezaul Karim, ZA Khan, Mofazzal Karim, MA Hakim and Shah Mohd Abul Hossain.
Saifur said unity is not possible until Delwar group changes its mindset and drops the precondition. "If Delwar does not lift his precondition, we'll not cancel October 29 decisions," said the ailing leader who is to be admitted to Apollo Hospital for medical check-up.
Later, briefing the reporters, Hafiz welcomed Khaleda's "message for unity" in BNP and said the unity must be worked out at any cost.
He said Saifur also called for unity, but Delwar did not respond to it.
Hafiz said they were hurt by the remarks from a senior leader like Delwar regarding the precondition for reunification. "Begum Zia did not speak about any precondition, but Delwar is setting conditions."
He said Saifur, being the senior most in the party hierarchy, was made acting chairman to run BNP in absence of Khaleda.
The moment consensus will be reached giving BNP a complete shape, he would quit his responsibility as acting secretary general, Hafiz said. "We will do our best to forge the unity based on the message of our leader."