NDP faction gives Khaleda 72 hrs ultimatum

A faction of National Democratic Party (NDP) gave BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on Saturday a 72-hour ultimatum to meet its five-point demand, including 'more democratic practice' within the BNP-led coalition, report agencies.

Addressing a press conference, Alamgir Majumder, acting chairman of the newly formed NDP faction, also threatened to quit the alliance if they do not get any effective response from BNP within the deadline.

Alamgir, who was NDP secretary general, said the party presidium members at a meeting on September 12 expelled its chairman Golam Mortauza Khandaker and made him acting chairman of the party while presidium member Ali Nur Rahman acting secretary general.  

Their demands include throwing action programmes on public issues, taking clear stance on the unsettled issues with India, mounting pressure on India to resolve water dispute, refraining from hide and seek game over ties with India, practising democracy, taking decision of the alliance and making BNP's position clear on religion-based politics.