Bhuiyan to lead team in readying proposals

Saifur-led faction of BNP yesterday formed a sub-committee led by Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan to draw up proposals for the Election Commission's (EC) dialogue on electoral reforms.
The other members are Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, acting secretary general Maj (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, Vice-president Osman Farrukh and the BNP chairperson's Advisers ZA Khan, Mofazzal Karim and Enam Ahmed Chowdhury.
The proposals to be prepared by the sub-committee would be firmed up in consultation with the senior leaders, said a press release signed by Assistant Publicity Secretary Ahmed Musa.
Sources said the pro-reform leaders last night held a meeting at the Gulshan residence of Mannan Bhuiyan, who was expelled as the secretary general by party Chief Khaleda Zia.
The EC on November 5 invited Maj (retd) Hafiz for the talks slated for November 22, leading to a huge controversy.
Since then, leaders loyal to Khandakar Delwar Hossain, the secretary general appointed by the detained chairperson, have been preparing for a legal fight against the commission's decision.
Meanwhile, Delwar yesterday once again sought permission from the government to meet Khaleda. On his behalf, acting office secretary Rizvi Ahmed handed over the application to the jail authorities.
Later a press release issued by the Delwar faction too urged the government to allow their secretary general to meet the former premier in the sub-jail.
Besides, it asked the administration not to let Saifur Rahman and Hafiz meet her as they fear the two might force Khaleda into giving them a written consent in their favour.
In a dramatic development, Saifur and Hafiz were appointed acting chairman and acting secretary general at a standing committee meeting on October 29.
The pro-Khaleda faction rejected outright the decisions, saying the committee has no legal authority to convene a meeting.
Senior member of the standing committee RA Goni said the meeting was not a formal one. They went to Saifur's house only because they were invited for tea.