Another bid to reunite BNP foils for Delwar opposition

A scheduled meeting between the leaders of the two factions of BNP to reunite the party could not be held yesterday afternoon following opposition from BNP chairperson-appointed Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain.
Party insiders said a top pro-Saifur faction leader was supposed to visit the home of a pro-Khaleda faction leader yesterday afternoon to discuss the party's unification issue. The pro-Khaleda leader asked some of his colleagues to attend the meeting but they refused following instructions from Delwar.
BNP standing committee member Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, known as a pro-Saifur faction leader, told The Daily Star last evening that the meeting might not be held yesterday.
He, however, refused to give any details saying that the task of unifying the party is going on at different stages.
Party leaders said Delwar had an argument with Brig Gen (retd) Hannan Shah, adviser to detained BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Sunday night over his recent move to sit with dissident leaders without Delwar's consent.
During the argument over telephone, Hannan claimed he received a message from the detained chairperson for taking initiative to reunite the party, the leaders added.
A number of pro-Khaleda faction leaders alleged that Hannan during the last few days sat with pro-Saifur faction leaders at different places in the city without consulting Delwar about it.
Meanwhile, Maj (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed, acting secretary general appointed by the party's standing committee, yesterday said the party would be united by May 30 and there is no doubt about it.
"We already held several meetings with leaders of the other faction and the process [unification] is going on," he said at a press briefing at his Banani home.
On acting BNP Chairperson M Saifur Rahman's recent comment about the effectiveness of his leadership, Hafizuddin said it is Saifur's personal opinion and personal opinions do not change any decision.
Replying to a query whether his faction has become ineffective, he said, "I do not know what he said but we will ask him [Saifur] about his remark but a decision cannot be changed due to somebody's personal opinion expressed before the media or court."
"I do not have any desire for any post. I will step down if it is required to unite the party," he replied when asked whether he will quit the post of acting secretary general if BNP is united.
He said they want a respectful unity of the party and the party would be united at any cost before May 30, the death anniversary of its founder late president Ziaur Rahman.
Hafizuddin Ahmed hoped a united BNP would participate in the upcoming dialogue with the government as well as the parliamentary elections.
Terming the ACC's approval of the Gatco case charge sheet unfortunate, he said one cannot be an accused just because he or she was a member of the purchase committee.
Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) recently approved the charge sheet of Gatco case accusing BNP leaders Saifur Rahman and Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan among others.
Opposing the re-demarcation of the parliamentary constituencies, he said the Election Commission does not need to do it before this election since all political parties have opposed it.