They are also planning to keep Khaleda Zia in a respected position in the party after implementation of the reform proposals since she would then cease to remain party chairperson.

Council preparatory committee, councillors selection committee, finance committee and an organisational committee would be formed soon to make the council well represented and successful.

According to the sources, the preparatory committee will play the key role in holding the council and the selection committee will finalise the list of councillors in line with the party constitution.

"Preparatory committee will also decide who will preside over the council if party Chairperson Khaleda Zia does consent to holding it," a pro-reform leader told The Daily Star yesterday.

The leaders admitted they now cannot contact the party chairperson to discuss various related issues due to some obstacles. Even they have no chance to talk with her over phone unless she contacts them .

"Definitely we will try to keep her in a respected position but the final decision in this regard will rest with the councillors," former state minister and pro-reform leader Shah Abul Hossain said replying to questions from reporters yesterday.

Asked about speculations that Khaleda might expel from the party some pro-reform leaders including Mannan Bhuiyan, he said," We will take decisions according to the party constitution if she does so. But I believe she spoke against some of the party leaders due to her resentment.”

On Khaleda's comments during a recent teleconference with Australia chapter of BNP. Abul Hossain said, "It is not acceptable that the party chairperson terms some leaders betrayers."

Responding to a question, he said preparations for the party council are going on.

"About two thirds of the councillors of the party are with us and more than 105 former lawmakers have already expressed their support for the reform proposals," he said after meeting the party secretary general at his Gulshan residence.

They will organise the council with the consent of the party chairperson, he said.

Meanwhile, when contacted several councillors said they want to see the council is held with the party chief in the process.

Amjad Hossain, general Secretary of Shailakupa upazila unit of BNP in Jhenidah, said, "Reforms have to be implemented under the leadership of Khaleda Zia ... Field level leaders and workers will not accept any decision keeping her away."

Obaidul Islam Badol, General secretary of Nalchhiti upazila unit of BNP in Jhalakathi, said, "BNP means Khaleda Zia... Nothing (no reform) would take place keeping her in the dark, and party workers will not accept anything without her participation."

ABM Mosharraf Hossain, President of Kolapara upazilla unit of BNP in Patuakhali, said "We also want reforms but Khaleda Zia must be involved in the process. Otherwise, people will not accept those."

On the other hand, former lawmaker Abdul Mannan Talukdar and Humayun Islam Khan, president and general secretary respectively of Sirajganj district unit of BNP, said they will join the council, if asked by the party secretary general. And they will accept any decision taken at council.

President of Chuadanga district unit of BNP Mozammel Haque, also a former lawmaker, said they want to bring reforms in the party, and it does not matter whether Khaleda Zia joins the council or not.