At a press conference in the evening, Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan read out the proposals prepared in consultation with some senior leaders and former lawmakers.

He said absolute powers of the party chief must be curbed for the BNP to graduate to a democratic organisation. And the [BNP] constitution will have to be amended to make that happen.

According to the proposals, the chairperson will be elected for three years instead of the existing two years.

No one will be allowed to hold the apex post for more than two terms. The proposed provision will be applicable also to those who already held the post for two terms or more than six years. If incorporated in the [BNP] constitution, it will mean an end to Khaleda's being at the helm for around 23 years on the trot.

Also a former prime minister, she has welcomed the plans and said the national council will take decisions after examining those.

The proposals say that no one of the party will be allowed to be the prime minister for third time. Besides, the same person shall not hold simultaneously the posts of chairperson and the premier.

However, nothing has been mentioned about the tenure of secretary general and standing committee members. At the crowded press briefing at his Gulshan residence, Bhuiyan dodged a question about the tenure of the secretary general's post that he has been holding for over 10 years.

In a somewhat uncharted political terrain following the declaration of a state of emergency, leaders of the BNP and Awami League have moved to make sweeping intra-party reforms including those which would trim back the 'all-pervasive command' of the party chiefs.

The proposals announced yesterday call for radical changes in the BNP constitution. Those for reforms believe the amendments will translate into a BNP that the leaders and workers across the country have always dreamt of.

"The reforms have to be carried out to enable the party to keep pace with the changing times," observed Bhuiyan, former LGRD minister, brushing aside the allegation that they have drawn up the proposals to spare themselves the heat of the ongoing anti-graft operation.

The pro-reform leaders did not consult Chairperson Khaleda Zia before making public their plans. Rather, they have been avoiding meeting her since the military-backed government launched the crackdown on corruption suspects.

"We will send a copy of the proposals to the chairperson today [yesterday]," the BNP secretary general said replying to a query.

He said these are draft proposals and will be finalised only after discussion at the national council or executive committee, once the ban on indoor politics goes.

Asked about the chairperson's announcement that she too would come up with some proposals, he said, "Anyone can put forward proposals. Everything will be discussed at the party forums."

Bhuiyan, who himself was nominated for secretary general's post by Khaleda, proposed that from now on the council will elect members of the national executive committee including the secretary general and standing committee members.

A number of standing committee members now seeking reforms in the party have also been chosen by the BNP chairperson through the powers vested in her by the party constitution.

Bhuiyan and his allies proposed for doing away with the party chief's authority to dissolve any committee and discipline anyone at will. According to the proposals, any decision regarding the matters will have to be approved by the standing committee.

The leaders also suggest scrapping of the chairperson's power to nominate 10 percent members to various committees down to the grassroots level.

They proposed getting rid of the provision that empowers the BNP chief to amend the party constitution in case of emergency.

To make an end to the politics of dynasty, the proposals suggest that family members and close relatives will have to be discouraged from contesting elections or seeking to be office bearers.

About financial transparency, they said the ministers, lawmakers and members of the standing committee, national executive committee and thana committees must submit their wealth statements to the national executive committee every year.

The BNP in its manifesto for 2001 election pledged that it would release the wealth statements of the prime minister, ministers and lawmakers. But it did not honour the pledge and many of its senior leaders, former ministers and lawmakers now stand accused of massive corruption.

Earlier in the day, the secretary general held a meeting with senior leaders and former lawmakers.

M Saifur Rahman, Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, Kamal Ibne Yousuf, Hafizuddin Ahmed, Osman Farukh, Ashraf Hossain, Inam Ahmed Chowdhury, Moffazzal Karim, ZA Khan, Mosharraf Hossain Shahjahan, Selima Rahman, Abdul Alim, Major General (retd) Mahmudul Hasan, Sardar Sakhawat Hossain Bakul, Zahiruddin Swapan, Ziaul Haque Mollah, and Shahiduzzaman, among others, were present.

Meanwhile, Assistant Office Secretary Emran Saleh Prince, who was assigned the task of handing over the proposals to Khaleda Zia, was not allowed to enter the BNP chief's cantonment residence last night.

Council has final say BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday welcomed any reform proposals from her party men and the people but said only the party council will take the final decision in this regard.

15-pt proposal Pro-form BNP leaders led by party Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan yesterday announced their 15-point reform proposal for the party. Following is the full text of the proposal: