"Whatever we are doing is in line with our [BNP] constitution," he told reporters at his Gulshan residence yesterday.

Bhuiyan said that after wrapping up the work on reform proposals he would meet the chairperson. "I will see her for permission to hold the council," he said smilingly.

Visiting the mausoleum of late president Ziaur Rahman on Thursday, Khaleda Zia cautioned that those who are active against the unity of the party would be disciplined.

Besides, she said that had the secretary general been sincerely caring about her permission he would have talked to her about the reforms and the party council.

The pro-reform group announced a 15-point proposal for reforms in the party on June 25. Besides revising those proposals, they have been drawing up some for reforms in the country's political culture and state affairs.

Meanwhile, BNP Joint Secretary General Ashraf Hossain, a close aide to Bhuiyan, yesterday said, "We have already informed her of the reforms issue and she could have asked us for more information."

He was talking to the reporters after meeting Mannan Bhuiyan at his residence.

Asked about Khaleda's call for the leaders and workers to remain united against conspiracy, Ashraf said, "You'd better ask her about it as we don't know anything about conspiracy."

He said, "We had to take the initiative to hold the council as she [Khaleda] has all along been indifferent to the matter."

Ashraf claimed that they are receiving a huge positive response from the rank and file. "Many of them came to us with a number of excellent proposals on how to make the party democratic," he observed.

He said like their party chief, they too want the ban on indoor politics to go but the decision rests with the government.

Khaleda on Thursday also demanded that the caretaker government lift the ban to create an atmosphere congenial to holding a council and allow free discussions and decision-making regarding the reforms.

According to the reform proposals unveiled by Bhuiyan and allies, the absolute powers of the chairperson must be curbed for the BNP to graduate to a democratic organisation. And the party constitution would have to be amended to make that happen.

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.