Hafiz doubts Khaleda's remarks recognising Delwar as legitimate BNP secretary general
Sunday, 17 February 2008
BNP acting secretary general Maj (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed Saturday cast doubt on detained chairperson Khaleda Zia's reported remarks recognising Khandaker Delwar Hossain as her appointed secretary general, reports UNB.
Khaleda through her two lawyers - Barrister Nawshad Zamir and Adv Sanaullah Mia-also declared illegal the October 29 standing committee meeting that made M Saifur Rahman as acting chairperson and Maj (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed as acting secretary general.
"We don't believe the lawyers' remarks quoting Begum Zia as saying," Hafiz told reporters at his Banani residence. "No one can make such political remarks sitting in jail," he said.
Hafiz said Khandaker Delwar had earlier rejected Barrister Mahbubuddin Khokon who carried Begum Zia's message from jail for the unity of BNP. At that time, he said, Delwar also rejected Barrister Khokon.
Hafiz advised to shun the politics of blame game and take initiatives for unification of BNP before the parliamentary elections.
"We've accepted the BNP chairperson's message about unity. The two streams of BNP will have to sit across the table for unity," he said, adding that he is ready to quit his current post for the sake of unity.
"If we make sacrifice and concession, others will have to do the same for unity. Unity will not be possible by issuing statements to newspapers and televisions," Hafiz said.
He questioned why Khandaker Delwar puts condition to unity when Begum Zia did not set any pre-condition?
Hafiz said: "It's not the syndrome of healthy politics if we look at jail. Outside the prison, there are many senior leaders and we need to consult with them and unite BNP and prepare for elections after reforming the party."
He said Delwar does not want unity in BNP but when the election will come closer, the grassroots workers would enforce the unity.
On the government's proposed dialogue with political parties, Hafiz said dialogue is needed to prepare a roadmap for an election to be free from unlawful, black money and corruption.
Khaleda through her two lawyers - Barrister Nawshad Zamir and Adv Sanaullah Mia-also declared illegal the October 29 standing committee meeting that made M Saifur Rahman as acting chairperson and Maj (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed as acting secretary general.
"We don't believe the lawyers' remarks quoting Begum Zia as saying," Hafiz told reporters at his Banani residence. "No one can make such political remarks sitting in jail," he said.
Hafiz said Khandaker Delwar had earlier rejected Barrister Mahbubuddin Khokon who carried Begum Zia's message from jail for the unity of BNP. At that time, he said, Delwar also rejected Barrister Khokon.
Hafiz advised to shun the politics of blame game and take initiatives for unification of BNP before the parliamentary elections.
"We've accepted the BNP chairperson's message about unity. The two streams of BNP will have to sit across the table for unity," he said, adding that he is ready to quit his current post for the sake of unity.
"If we make sacrifice and concession, others will have to do the same for unity. Unity will not be possible by issuing statements to newspapers and televisions," Hafiz said.
He questioned why Khandaker Delwar puts condition to unity when Begum Zia did not set any pre-condition?
Hafiz said: "It's not the syndrome of healthy politics if we look at jail. Outside the prison, there are many senior leaders and we need to consult with them and unite BNP and prepare for elections after reforming the party."
He said Delwar does not want unity in BNP but when the election will come closer, the grassroots workers would enforce the unity.
On the government's proposed dialogue with political parties, Hafiz said dialogue is needed to prepare a roadmap for an election to be free from unlawful, black money and corruption.