Delwar’s men try to stop leaders from joining rivals’ meet

Followers of Khaleda Zia-appointed BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain have started urging the party's central executive committee members not to attend any meeting held in his absence.
Party insiders said the initiative was taken as a group of leaders backed by Brig Gen (retd) Hannan Shah, an adviser to Chairperson Khaleda Zia, are planning to hold a meeting of the central executive committee to establish their supremacy in the party leadership.
Pro-Delwar leaders think that the followers of Hannan might challenge the leadership of Delwar if Hannan succeeds in holding the meeting.
Hannan Shah, however, said yesterday that Khandaker Delwar, who is in the USA now for treatment, is the party secretary general and he will run the party after his return.
He said they are conducting the party activities through consultation with the party leaders since Delwar did not give anyone the charge before leaving the country.
Earlier on Thursday, Hannan gave hints that they will conduct the party activities through consultation with the standing committee members in the absence of Delwar.
A pro-Hannan leader yesterday told The Daily Star that they have not yet made any formal move for holding any meeting of the party's central executive committee.
Party insiders said internal disputes within the BNP faction loyal to Khaleda Zia became intense over establishing supremacy in the party leadership. Most leaders of the faction were disappointed as Delwar did not inform them before leaving the country.
Sources said pro-Khaleda leaders in the standing committee have also become divided over the leadership dispute.
Meanwhile, Delwar told New York based news agency Ena on Thursday that he did not have any discussion with Hannan Shah about the unity process and Hannan even did not communicate with the party's detained chairperson in this regard.
Many leaders and workers of the pro-Khaleda faction now think that Hannan Shah is following the dictates of "certain quarters", not that of the party chairperson.
"The activities of Hannan Shah are doubtful as he is too much interested in bringing back the Saifur-led leaders in the party in the name of unity," a former lawmaker told The Daily Star last night. However, Delwar should have informed the senior leaders before leaving Dhaka, he added.