The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Newly appointed BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain yesterday said reform of the party would be done as per its constitution, not under any "design" of his expelled predecessor Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan.

"There is nothing called mainstream or sub-stream of the BNP," he told journalists at his NAM Building apartment, claiming, "The BNP has only one stream and that is under the leadership of Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia."

He was critical of the Mannan Bhuiyan for announcing the reform proposal with a view to free the party corruption, criminalisation and dynastic politics.

Meanwhile, rebel BNP Secretary General yesterday reiterated his claim that his faction is the mainstream of the party since most of the BNP leaders, former MPs and workers are with him.

"The reform of the party is going on and leaders and workers from all over the country have been maintaining regular contacts with us. We are geting positive response from the leaders and the workers," he said.

"There is no reasons for the honest and democratic leaders and workers of the BNP to support those, who are responsible for massive corruption as well as criminalisation of politics," he asserted while talking to journalists at his Gulshan residence.

Khandaker Delwar said, "Mannan Bhuiyan had been the party Secretary General for 11 years, but he did not take any initiative to reform the party during his tenure,"

As Mannan Bhuiyan stuck to the reform of the party, he claimed that the BNP had undergone many reforms since 1991. More reforms might be brought about according to the proposal of the party councilors.

"The Councillors will submit the proposals to the Secretary General, who will submit those to the Chairperson and the Standing Commitee. The proposals will go to the Council after scrutiny and approval of the Chairperson," Khandaker Delwar said.

Mannan Bhuiyan said the reform was necessary in the party to restore BNP's public image, which was badly tarnished due to massive corruption during its government

"Reform should have to be done in the state machinery as well as for the development of the country and welfare of its people," he said.

Referring to tremendous response he was receiving from the party leaders and the workers to his reform proposals, Mannan Bhuiyan reiterated his hope that they would win the next general election.

Member of the BNP Advisory Council Major General (retd) ZA Khan said they still respect Begum Khaleda Zia as the BNP Chairperson.