Call for unity in BNP should be welcomed by all, says ZA Khan

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BNP reformist leader ZA Khan said Sunday that the call for unity in BNP should be welcomed by all.
He said this while making his observation about party's Secretary General Khondoker Delwar Hossain's reply about Mannan Bhuiyan's call for unity in the BNP, reports UNB.
Delwar questioned Friday the authority of rebel former BNP secretary general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan of calling for unity in the party.
"I'm fully convinced that our Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan can keep the party united. He is trying to protect the party from any split. He deserves congratulations and his efforts should be welcomed," Khan told reporters after meeting Bhuiyan at his Gulshan residence.
Party's internal reform is the first pre-condition for unity of BNP, he added.
Khan claimed that BNP rank and file who believed in democracy within the party was with them. "We are not against or in favour of any person but in favour of a principle. And the principle is reform of the party."
Replying to a question ZA Khan said none of the high level leaders of the party is with him (Delwar).
He said the reforms they proposed in the party are not directed to any individual. It is intended to consolidate and strengthen the party.
"We don't want reforms with the party without Khaleda Zia and Mannan Bhuiyan. But if the party council wants to abandon anyone, nothing can be done."
Replying to a question about legality of their calling the party council he said the maximum members of the national executive council are with them. So, they have the right to summon council and it will be done on resumption of political activities.
Another bdnews24.com report adds: BNP leader RA Gani Sunday said expelled secretary general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan could always appeal for a review of the chairperson's decision.
"Mannan Bhuiyan has finally realised that he cannot achieve anything by taking a separate path. Though late, he has realised that it is not easy to split BNP," Gani, a member of the policymaking standing committee, said.
"The chairperson expelled Mannan Bhuiyan and Ashraf Hossain following the dictates of the party constitution.
"If the two expelled leaders now think that it was unjust, they may appeal for review of the chairperson's decision," he told reporters at his Dhanmondi residence.
Gani said reform to the party was an urgent need to replace individual leadership with joint leadership and promote intra-party democracy.
"BNP is in a mess today as it did not carry any intra-party reforms. Joint leadership must be established in the party doing away with the practice of individual decision-making.
"There are no anti-reform elements in the BNP. All of us including the chairperson are in favour of effecting necessary reforms."
He said, "Though expelled, Bhuiyan can always urge all to stay united as a well wisher or supporter of BNP. I see nothing wrong in that. There is no division, however, in BNP and the party is united."
Asked if all felt reform in the party was a necessity, then why Bhuiyan was expelled, Gani said, "The chairperson took action against Bhuiyan as he breached party discipline. I regard Bhuiyan as a good person. I do not want to criticise him."
He said work on reforming BNP could start as soon as the embargo on politics went. The party constitution needed to be changed and democratic processes established within the party.
Reform was a fundamental demand of the time, he said and asked the government to reopen the party central office to facilitate the reform process.
Gani proposed setting qualification standards for the lawmakers and limiting electoral expenses of the candidates by enacting laws in the parliament.
He said the caretaker government can take the country forward by bringing about reforms in different sectors for the benefit of the country.