Most of the reformist leaders, who had planned to challenge Hasina's leadership if she does not agree with the 21-point proposal drawn up without her involvement, have apparently softened their stance.

This followed the AL chief's assertion that one group of people should run the party and another set should run the government.

AL Presidium Member Suranjit Sengupta yesterday said they want to bring reforms by keeping Hasina as the party chief. He had earlier said they would remove her from the post of party president, if necessary, for reforms.

Suranjit told a private television channel that they have now finalised the 21-point proposal by curtailing unilateral decision-making power of the party chief and introducing joint leadership in the party.

Another pro-reform leader AL Joint General Secretary Mukul Bose yesterday visited Hasina at her Sudha Sadan residence, three days after she spoke against holding any posts in the cabinet and in the party simultaneously. A key-point in the 21-point proposal is that the party chief must not become prime minister.

Mukul Bose told reporters later that the 21-point reform proposal that has been finalised by keeping by Hasina as the party chief would be handed over to her within three days.

Some other influential reformist leaders, who organised a series of informal meetings in the last several weeks and prepared the 21-point proposal without Hasina's consent, have also taken Hasina's views positively and welcomed her thoughts.

They said it was beyond their imagination that the party chief would move a step further than their proposals.

Talking to The Daily Star, some reformist AL leaders said if the party president's views are materialised, it would be good for the party as well as for the nation. And a pro-people government will emerge in the country.

But a section of reformist leaders believe Hasina would never stick to what she is saying now on reforms. "Being irritated by the move for party reforms in the present situation, she might have spoken all this," one leader said preferring not to be named.

In a bid to bring 'drastic' reforms in the AL, influential party leaders including presidium members Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed and Suranjit Sengupta had prepared the reform proposals. But getting the proposals informally, Hasina said she wants further amendments to those.

"Not only the party president's post but no other party position should as well be held by the same person for more than twice. Not only the chief of the party should be barred from becoming prime minister but all central committee office bearers should be prohibited from becoming ministers or state ministers," Hasina told The Daily Star recently.

Asked about Hasina's proposal, Tofail Ahmed said it is obviously an excellent proposal. "The leader (Hasina) has spoken perfectly. If those are materialised, the party and the government will be different from what they are now. And a pro-people government will get shape, rather than a partisan one," he said.

Another AL central leader, Col (retd) Faruk Khan, who has been keeping close contact with Hasina, strongly supported the AL chief's proposal. "In the past, government used to get the shape of a party. If her [Hasina's] proposals are implemented, it will be good for the nation," he said.