Khaleda expels Bhuiyan, makes Delwar party SG
Tuesday, 4 September 2007
Former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, prior to her arrest, issued three edicts, sacking the 'reformist' leaders Mannan-Ashraf duo from her party and elevating ex-chief whip Khandaker Delwar Hossain to the party secretary general (SG), report UNB/ bdnews24.com.
BNP leader Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan Monday brushed aside his expulsion as secretary general by the detained party Chairperson Khaleda Zia as a step against party constitution.
Bhuiyan said leaders and workers would not go by the chairperson's decision. "We will make the next move in consultation with the party leaders and workers."
On the other hand, with his appointment letter in hand, Delwar expressed his gratitude to the party chairperson for giving him the responsibility at a time when the party was going through a crucial time.
Bhuiyan maintained that he was in BNP and ruled out the possibility floating a new party and said the chairperson's decision to expel secretary general without serving a show cause notice was unprecedented.
In presence of some senior party leaders at his Gulshan home in the city Monday afternoon, Bhuiyan said the decision of the party chairperson to expel him was "undemocratic, against the party constitution and unacceptable."
He urged the followers to stand united at the critical juncture of the party and follow the ideals of late president Ziaur Rahman.
"Don't be misled by any undemocratic step including the expulsion order."
In a brief written statement, Bhuiyan said, "We have taken initiatives for necessary reforms to reorganise the BNP in a bid to save it from the image problem it had suffered before the January 11 historical changeover.
"Honest and dedicated leaders and workers of the party from all levels and people have expressed their support to our initiative.
"But some steps which hamper unity of the party at this hour of crisis make us wary. The announcement of expulsion is nothing but a reflection of such steps."
He also rejected Khaleda's expulsion of Joint Secretary General Ashraf Hossain.
He termed the arrest and cases against the party chairperson as sad and said things needed to be settled legally.
Bhuiyan said discussion with the Election Commission on electoral reforms was not possible if the ban on indoor politics stayed.
Later on at a press briefing, standing committee member Mahbubur Rahman read out a joint statement of 130 leaders of the executive committee.
The statement described the decision to expel Bhuiyan and Ashraf as undemocratic and against the party constitution.
The leaders in the statement alleged that Khaleda was pushing late president Ziaur Rahman's party toward division by expelling the party secretary general and joint secretary general at a time when the BNP was mired in a deep crisis.
Describing the chairperson's decision as one devoid of farsightedness, the executive committee leaders urged party leaders and workers to carry forward the reform process.
Earlier in midday, more than 50 leaders including Mahbubur Rahman, Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, AHM Mofazzal Karim, Ashraf Hossain, ZA Khan and Nazir Hossain met at Bhuiyan's home.
Meanwhile, the new BNP secretary general demanded immediate release of the party chairperson, Khaleda Zia, arrested in a corruption case Monday morning under the ongoing political purge in the interim period.
"This is a conspiratorial case…We want her immediate release," Khandaker told reporters at his NAM apartment house, after Khaleda was taken in the newly-designated sub-jail in the parliament-building complex.
He said a lawyer would be appointed to free the party leader from jail.
Khandaker Delwar, the former chief whip in the last parliament and member of the BNP standing committee, also urged party leaders and workers to remain united and strengthen BNP to ensure the release of Khaleda.
Earlier, ASM Hannan Shah, adviser to the BNP chairperson, read out Khaleda's letter on expulsion of BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and Joint Secretary General Ashraf Hossain from the party to reporters.
The two were expelled from the party on the charge of breaking party's discipline.
In reply to a question Delwar told UNB over phone that the party chief issued three separate letters expelling Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and Ashraf Hossain from the posts of BNP secretary general and joint secretary general respectively and placing him in Bhuiyan's post.
The letters were signed by the beleaguered Khaleda on September 2, as the process of her eventual arrest had started late Sunday through filing the graft case against her, her younger son Arafat Rahman Coco and eleven others.
Delwar said Khaleda Zia would remain the chairperson of BNP under captivity, as there is no provision in the BNP constitution for acting Chairman.
The new secretary general said the legal fight had already been started to free the chairperson.
"Besides, BNP leaders and workers will make all effort, keeping within the purview of the state of emergency, to get her released," he said.
Asked if BNP was facing a split in the changed circumstances with the change in leadership, Delwar said it would not be right thing to bring about split in the party on the question of reforms.
He referred to Awami League's decision not to go for party reform by keeping their leader Sheikh Hasina in jail.
"Khaleda's release is now the prime responsibility…Reforms are a normal process which could be done later on," he said.
BNP leader Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan Monday brushed aside his expulsion as secretary general by the detained party Chairperson Khaleda Zia as a step against party constitution.
Bhuiyan said leaders and workers would not go by the chairperson's decision. "We will make the next move in consultation with the party leaders and workers."
On the other hand, with his appointment letter in hand, Delwar expressed his gratitude to the party chairperson for giving him the responsibility at a time when the party was going through a crucial time.
Bhuiyan maintained that he was in BNP and ruled out the possibility floating a new party and said the chairperson's decision to expel secretary general without serving a show cause notice was unprecedented.
In presence of some senior party leaders at his Gulshan home in the city Monday afternoon, Bhuiyan said the decision of the party chairperson to expel him was "undemocratic, against the party constitution and unacceptable."
He urged the followers to stand united at the critical juncture of the party and follow the ideals of late president Ziaur Rahman.
"Don't be misled by any undemocratic step including the expulsion order."
In a brief written statement, Bhuiyan said, "We have taken initiatives for necessary reforms to reorganise the BNP in a bid to save it from the image problem it had suffered before the January 11 historical changeover.
"Honest and dedicated leaders and workers of the party from all levels and people have expressed their support to our initiative.
"But some steps which hamper unity of the party at this hour of crisis make us wary. The announcement of expulsion is nothing but a reflection of such steps."
He also rejected Khaleda's expulsion of Joint Secretary General Ashraf Hossain.
He termed the arrest and cases against the party chairperson as sad and said things needed to be settled legally.
Bhuiyan said discussion with the Election Commission on electoral reforms was not possible if the ban on indoor politics stayed.
Later on at a press briefing, standing committee member Mahbubur Rahman read out a joint statement of 130 leaders of the executive committee.
The statement described the decision to expel Bhuiyan and Ashraf as undemocratic and against the party constitution.
The leaders in the statement alleged that Khaleda was pushing late president Ziaur Rahman's party toward division by expelling the party secretary general and joint secretary general at a time when the BNP was mired in a deep crisis.
Describing the chairperson's decision as one devoid of farsightedness, the executive committee leaders urged party leaders and workers to carry forward the reform process.
Earlier in midday, more than 50 leaders including Mahbubur Rahman, Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, AHM Mofazzal Karim, Ashraf Hossain, ZA Khan and Nazir Hossain met at Bhuiyan's home.
Meanwhile, the new BNP secretary general demanded immediate release of the party chairperson, Khaleda Zia, arrested in a corruption case Monday morning under the ongoing political purge in the interim period.
"This is a conspiratorial case…We want her immediate release," Khandaker told reporters at his NAM apartment house, after Khaleda was taken in the newly-designated sub-jail in the parliament-building complex.
He said a lawyer would be appointed to free the party leader from jail.
Khandaker Delwar, the former chief whip in the last parliament and member of the BNP standing committee, also urged party leaders and workers to remain united and strengthen BNP to ensure the release of Khaleda.
Earlier, ASM Hannan Shah, adviser to the BNP chairperson, read out Khaleda's letter on expulsion of BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and Joint Secretary General Ashraf Hossain from the party to reporters.
The two were expelled from the party on the charge of breaking party's discipline.
In reply to a question Delwar told UNB over phone that the party chief issued three separate letters expelling Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and Ashraf Hossain from the posts of BNP secretary general and joint secretary general respectively and placing him in Bhuiyan's post.
The letters were signed by the beleaguered Khaleda on September 2, as the process of her eventual arrest had started late Sunday through filing the graft case against her, her younger son Arafat Rahman Coco and eleven others.
Delwar said Khaleda Zia would remain the chairperson of BNP under captivity, as there is no provision in the BNP constitution for acting Chairman.
The new secretary general said the legal fight had already been started to free the chairperson.
"Besides, BNP leaders and workers will make all effort, keeping within the purview of the state of emergency, to get her released," he said.
Asked if BNP was facing a split in the changed circumstances with the change in leadership, Delwar said it would not be right thing to bring about split in the party on the question of reforms.
He referred to Awami League's decision not to go for party reform by keeping their leader Sheikh Hasina in jail.
"Khaleda's release is now the prime responsibility…Reforms are a normal process which could be done later on," he said.