Khaleda made BNP's life chairperson
Sunday, 14 September 2008
Khaleda Zia has been made life chairperson of BNP at the party's policymaking meeting of the Standing Committee Saturday that also punished its reformist secretary general for challenging her leadership, reports UNB.
Chowdhury Tanvir Ahmed Siddiqui proposed at the meeting that Khaleda Zia be made life chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for her outstanding contributions to the cause of the party as well as to the nation.
The significant decision came after three days of her coming out of jail on bail in all four graft cases filed during the present caretaker government's rule.
Tanvir told the news agency after the meeting that his proposal was adopted "unanimously" by all the 8 members of the standing committee present at Saturday's meeting.
"Khaleda will remain chairperson of the party as long as she lives and her health permits," he added, citing his proposal that was endorsed by the meeting, which also approved the expulsion of dissident former secretary general Mannan Bhuiyan and joint secretary general Ashraf Hossain.
He said the decision of the standing committee has to be ratified by the party council session.
"Henceforth, there shall be nothing called minus in the party," Tanvir said, asserting a defiant party position against the much-talked-about minus-two formula - excluding Awami League president Hasina and BNP chairperson Khaleda from country's politics-touted after the January 11, 2007 changeover.
The meeting decided to evaluate the party activities under the leadership of Delwar during the crisis period of the party when the chairperson was under detention, he added.
Briefing on the 90-minute meeting, party Secretary General Khandker Delwar Hossain told waiting newsmen that it declared void the October 29 meeting of the standing committee of the 'reformist group' at the residence of Saifur Rahman.
The meeting approved appointment of Khandker Delwar as secretary general, which the chairperson had done hastily before she was taken in.
All his actions taken after taking over as secretary general were also approved.
The party hierarchy decided to go for dialogue with the caretaker government and the Election Commission on matters of early parliamentary elections.
Asked when they are going for the dialogue, Delwar said time would be fixed after discussions with components of the 4-party alliance.
It expressed satisfaction at the release of Khaleda and her two sons-Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman-and all other BNP leaders detained during the clampdown. It also noted with satisfaction that the two brothers were allowed to go abroad for treatment.
The meeting demanded withdrawal of all cases against Khaleda, her sons and all the party leaders as well as their permanent freedom. Immediate lifting of emergency and general election with participation of all parties ahead of election to the local bodies were also demanded.
It congratulated the party rank and file for their relentless struggle to secure the release of the party leaders from detention.
The standing-committee meeting over, chairperson Khaleda had a courtesy meeting with leaders of the BNP front organisations.
Chowdhury Tanvir Ahmed Siddiqui proposed at the meeting that Khaleda Zia be made life chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for her outstanding contributions to the cause of the party as well as to the nation.
The significant decision came after three days of her coming out of jail on bail in all four graft cases filed during the present caretaker government's rule.
Tanvir told the news agency after the meeting that his proposal was adopted "unanimously" by all the 8 members of the standing committee present at Saturday's meeting.
"Khaleda will remain chairperson of the party as long as she lives and her health permits," he added, citing his proposal that was endorsed by the meeting, which also approved the expulsion of dissident former secretary general Mannan Bhuiyan and joint secretary general Ashraf Hossain.
He said the decision of the standing committee has to be ratified by the party council session.
"Henceforth, there shall be nothing called minus in the party," Tanvir said, asserting a defiant party position against the much-talked-about minus-two formula - excluding Awami League president Hasina and BNP chairperson Khaleda from country's politics-touted after the January 11, 2007 changeover.
The meeting decided to evaluate the party activities under the leadership of Delwar during the crisis period of the party when the chairperson was under detention, he added.
Briefing on the 90-minute meeting, party Secretary General Khandker Delwar Hossain told waiting newsmen that it declared void the October 29 meeting of the standing committee of the 'reformist group' at the residence of Saifur Rahman.
The meeting approved appointment of Khandker Delwar as secretary general, which the chairperson had done hastily before she was taken in.
All his actions taken after taking over as secretary general were also approved.
The party hierarchy decided to go for dialogue with the caretaker government and the Election Commission on matters of early parliamentary elections.
Asked when they are going for the dialogue, Delwar said time would be fixed after discussions with components of the 4-party alliance.
It expressed satisfaction at the release of Khaleda and her two sons-Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman-and all other BNP leaders detained during the clampdown. It also noted with satisfaction that the two brothers were allowed to go abroad for treatment.
The meeting demanded withdrawal of all cases against Khaleda, her sons and all the party leaders as well as their permanent freedom. Immediate lifting of emergency and general election with participation of all parties ahead of election to the local bodies were also demanded.
It congratulated the party rank and file for their relentless struggle to secure the release of the party leaders from detention.
The standing-committee meeting over, chairperson Khaleda had a courtesy meeting with leaders of the BNP front organisations.