The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Mannan Bhuiyan yesterday claimed himself as the legal Secretary General of the BNP and urged the Election Commission (EC) to ignore the expulsion order served against him and not to communicate with the newly appointed Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain and respond to his leter submited earlier.

The expelled BNP leader in a leter submited to the Chief Election Commissioner said BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has 'illegally expelled' the party secretary general and joint secretary general to foil the ongoing reform process of the party.

A five-member pro-Mannan Bhuiyan leaders led by former minister Maj (Retd) Hafiz Uddin met with the CEC at his office and handed over the leter to him.

The leaders requested the EC not to take into account the leter submited to it on September 5 by a pro-Khaleda leader informing it about the recent events of expulsion and changes in the party posts and requesting it to discuss all maters with its 'legal' secretary general.

"The contents of the leter (of Sept 5) are totally irrational and motivated. And Mannan Bhuiyan is still the legal secretary general of BNP," read the pro-Mannan Bhuiyan leter.

The later said that the BNP chairperson has taken the steps (of expulsion) to foil the reform process when a good reform effort has started everywhere since the Election Commission has inspired for reforms of political parties and other institutions besides its own structure.

Talking to reporters, Major Hafiz said, the delegation requested the CEC not to take the leter (submited on September 5) into account so that the party remain combined.

"We have requested for taking necessary steps in this regard according to the party constitution and realising the opinions of tens of thousands of supporters of the party," he said.

The BNP leader said the EC officials told them that they would read the leter (of pro-Mannan Bhuiyan) and discuss it and inform about their decision in due time.

He said Mannan Bhuiyan is not informed about the leter that was sent to the EC on September 5.

"Even he isn't sure whether the chairperson (Khaleda) has truly writen the leter of the expulsions," he said.

Such incidents of expulsion occurred in the past too, but the decisions used to be taken in the party standing commitee, he said adding that it is not believable that Khaleda Zia has writen such a leter.

"No show-cause notice was sent to the secretary general and joint secretary general before the expulsion. The chairperson has taken the decision alone without discussing the mater with the national standing commitee and national executive commitee," the leter said.

Around 100 members of parliament requested the chairperson not to take such a step and most of the members of the standing commitee think the step was not right, Major Hafiz said.

He said that they hope to take part in the next election as a united BNP puting behind all the differences of opinion.

"We can resolve our differences of opinion discussing within ourselves… If BNP splits, it would give an advantage to our opposition, that is, Awami League," he added.