The BNP has warned its leaders and activists to keep away from the dissidents who are making press statements against the party and its leadership.

Highly-placed sources said an instruction was communicated to party leaders saying stern action would be taken against anyone found maintaining contacts with former president AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury, former speaker Shaikh Razzak Ali and others speaking against the party line.

Top leaders of the BNP sounded relieved that no significant leader met 'the dissidents' so far.

Some sources said Khaleda, now in Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah, might take a tough stance against 'the dissidents' on her return on November 23.

She has advised key party leaders to keep watch on those speaking against the party 'after losing power or out of frustration for not getting a cabinet berth' so that they cannot mobilise leaders of the party and its front organisations.

"The dissidents won't be able to float any platform or split the BNP because everybody knows several such efforts by so-called stalwarts in both BNP and the Awami League fell flat in the past," the policymaker said.

He said the BNP decided to 'go soft' on the dissidents at the initial stage and keep its reaction limited to countering their remarks, especially of B Chowdhury, from rallies and public meetings.

Echoing him, another leader said a set of arguments to counter the former president's remarks was prepared for delivery from public meetings.

Senior BNP leaders think counter-arguments against the activities of the dissidents may dishearten them from taking an anti-BNP stance.