BNP unification process at final stage
Claims Hannan Shah
Adviser to BNP chairperson Brig Gen (retd) Hannan Shah yesterday claimed the unification process of the BNP factions is now at the final stage.
Party leaders said a group of leaders led by Hannan Shah, a leader of pro-Khaleda faction of BNP, is making regular contacts with leaders of pro-Saifur faction to bring the party together.
Meanwhile, a group of leaders of the pro-Khaleda faction led by Khaleda Zia-appointed Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain is trying to avoid the unification process issue saying they do not know anything about the claims of Hannan Shah.
Delwar is not aware of Hannan Shah's statement or the stage of the unification process, said Rizvi Ahmed, BNP pro-Khaleda office secretary.
Hannan Shah did not divulge his strategy but his initiative created conflict within his own faction which may turn into a formal division, leaders feared.
However, both groups of leaders of the pro-Khaleda faction said the Saifur-led faction must cancel the decisions taken by BNP standing committee meeting held October 29 at Saifur's house before uniting the party.
Hannan Shah while talking to reporters at his Mohakhali home yesterday said, "We have contacted them [pro-Saifur leaders] and we hope the process to unite the party will succeed."
He also said they have started the unification process following dissident leaders' admission of their wrongdoings and due to the expectation of party leaders and workers.
“I firmly believe they [pro-Saifur] will return to the mainstream and would be given honourable posts but they have to cancel the decisions of October 29 meeting," he said.
He said after the party chairperson is freed, the party would take necessary steps regarding expelled leaders following the BNP constitution.
Replying to a question on local government elections, he said the main task of the caretaker government is to hold parliament elections.
He urged the authorities concerned to release the sick BNP leaders who are in jail.
A number of BNP pro-Khaleda faction leaders questioned Hannan Shah's authority to make such remarks in absence of the party's Secretary General Delwar, now in Singapore for treatment.
Hannan Shah yesterday held a meeting with BNP joint secretaries general Nazrul Islam Khan, Selima Rahman and Gayeshwar Chandra Roy and Organising Secretary Mohammad Shahjahan.
"I think he made exaggerated claims about unity… so far as we know, discussions are going on to unite the party," a former lawmaker who was present at Hannan Shah's home while he was talking to reporters told The Daily Star last evening.
A party leader requesting anonymity said, "Khaleda Zia-appointed Secretary General Delwar Hossain left for Singapore Sunday night without informing the party leaders about his trip since he feared that a group of leaders of his faction are planning to hold a meeting and change the party leadership in the name of unity."
Rizvi Ahmed, BNP pro-Khaleda office secretary, said Delwar went to Singapore for treatment and would return after a week's stay.
He said Delwar and his aides believe that united BNP is possible if pro-Saifur leaders cancel their October 29 meeting decisions and accept Khaleda's decision regarding Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and Ashraf Hossain expulsion and appointment of Delwar as party's secretary general.
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