"BNP is not an underground party, so nothing will be done here secretly...The reforms will not be implemented according to anybody's whim," Khaleda told reporters during her visit to ailing BNP Treasurer Shah Alam at his Shyamoli residence.

Asked about the preparations of a section of her party leaders to hold party council amid the state of emergency, she said, "Everyone wants reform but it will have to be placed before the party council according to the party constitution and everybody must accept the councillors' decision."

Earlier around 5:00pm, Khaleda went to an ophthalmologist for check-up at a clinic at Banani but law enforcers prevented her from talking to the media.

Police scuffled with journalists and prevented television camera crew taking shots.

From the clinic Khaleda went to see Shah Alam, who has been paralysed for the last five years. No senior or mid-level leader was present at this time.

Asked about the reform proposals announced by party Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, Khaleda said, "The party councillors will decide which reforms to be implemented. If necessary, the council will be held for three days so that every councillor gets a chance to speak.

"Nothing will take place beyond the party constitution...I have some proposals too, which I will place in the council," she said.

"Everybody in the party wants to see a strong BNP, not a divided one," Khaleda said, adding that the councillors established the BNP, so nothing will be done keeping them away.

When asked if she will take any disciplinary action against any party leader for violating the party constitution, the BNP chairperson said time will tell.

Asked what she will do if she is made the chief adviser to the party, Khaleda said she will accept the decision if it is taken by the party councillors.

The pro-reform leaders of BNP are meanwhile continuing their preparations to hold party council as soon as possible. They are planning to seek government permission soon to hold a council to implement their reform proposals placed by Mannan Bhuiyan on June 25.

Many grassroots level leaders yesterday met Mannan Bhuiyan to express their solidarity with his reform proposals.

"About 200 former lawmakers of the party are in favour of the reform, so the preparation to hold the council is going on," said BNP Joint Secretary General Ashraf Hossain.

"We will seek permission from the government [for holding the council] if the ban on indoor politics is not lifted soon," he said, claiming that more than one-third party councillors are ready to support the council.

ZA Khan, one of Khaleda's advisers, said, "We are preparing to hold a credible and effective council to implement the reform proposals to ensure intra-party democracy but it will take some time to complete the process."