Reform in BNP to be done as per party constitution: Delwar, Reform must be done in BNP, state machinery: Mannan

Dhaka, Sep 8 (UNB) - New BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain Saturday said party reform would be done in accordance with the party’s constitution, not under a “unique design” of his expelled predecessor Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan. Talking to reporters at his NAM apartment he swept under the carpet the notion like mainstream BNP amid the present permutation of the immediate-past ruling party along the lines of its detained chief and sacked secretary. “There is nothing called mainstream of BNP,” he said, claiming that BNP has only one stream and that’s under the leadership of Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. As Mannan Bhuiyan stuck to his guns over radical reforms, Delwar said Bhuiyan had been party secretary general for 11 years, but why he did not reform the party during this period. He noted that since 1991, BNP had undergone many reforms, more reforms might be brought about according to the proposal of the party councilors. Councilors will submit the proposals to the secretary general who will convene council session with the permission of the party chairman for approving those proposal, he said explaining what he thinks the right way round. Delwar said if Mannan Bhuiyan, who also lost his primary membership of BNP for his present stance, wants to get back his membership, party would consider, if deemed fit. Delwar said he has been member of the standing committee since 1985 and Bhuiyan worked with him. He had good personal relations with Bhuiyan. “We want to strengthen BNP, and whoever wants to join the party is welcome,” he said. Talking to reporters at his Gulshan house Mannan Bhuiyan reiterated that reform must be done in BNP and state machinery for the welfare of the party and the country. He said he has received tremendous response from party leaders and the workers to the recipe for strengthening BNP through reform. Once again claiming that they are the mainstream BNP he said they would secure victory in the election after recasting the party. BNP chairperson’s advisor ZA Khan said they still respect Khaleda Zia as BNP chairperson, but councilors’ decision in this respect would be final.