BNP unification move on

BNP leaders close to Brig Gen (retd) Hannan Shah yesterday backed down from holding an organisational meeting of the party scheduled for today following request from the rivals.
The decision was taken yesterday after a discussion between the pro-Hannan leaders and an emissary of Khandaker Delwar Hossain -- the Khaleda-appointed secretary general of the party who is currently in the US for treatment, said leaders of BNP.
Delwar had sent his representative to Hannan Shah, urging him not to hold any organisational meeting in his absence.
“They [pro-Hannan leaders] invited me to attend a meeting scheduled for tomorrow [Sunday], but they informed me today that they have cancelled the meeting," a former lawmaker who is also a top leader of a front organisation of BNP told The Daily Star yesterday.
When asked about the proposed meeting, Mohammad Shahjahan, the organising secretary of the party who is now a close aide of Hannan Shah, told this correspondent yesterday evening that they would not organise any such meeting.
Replying a question, he claimed that there is no conflict between Delwar and Hannan as both the leaders are working for the party under the leadership of the detained chairperson.
While speaking with journalists, Hannan, an adviser to the chairperson, also said that there was no misunderstanding between them. "After my release from jail, I had a long discussion with him [Delwar]," he said adding that no one has the right to drop Delwar's name from the post of secretary general of the party.
Hannan alleged that certain quarters are trying to create confusion in the party by taking advantage of the secretary general's illness.
Party leaders said a group of leaders backed by Hannan were planning to hold a joint meeting of the executive committee members and the front organisation leaders of the party to plan out a programme for observing the Independence Day.
Leaders loyal to Delwar anticipated further division in the party if the pro-Hannan leaders organised the meeting at a time when Delwar was out of the country.
As Delwar came to know of the proposed meeting, he asked his aides to send a representative to Hannan.
Meanwhile, leaders of BNP's front organisations have decided not to side with any faction within the pro-Khaleda faction of BNP. They also decided to discuss party affairs with Delwar once he returns home.
"We will discuss with both the leaders [Delwar and Hannan] and request them to clear up sorts of misunderstandings among senior leaders of the party," a front organisation leader told The Daily Star.