The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

BNP Advisory Council member Brig Gen (retd) ASM Hannan Shah yesterday said the so-called reformist leaders, including his party's expelled Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, were working out plans in Singapore to implement an evil design in the country.

"As I have learnt from newspaper reports that those who failed to get support for their reform proposals from party leaders and workers at home went to Singapore to devise their next plan," he told journalists at his DOHS residence. Bangladeshi expatriates do not also support the reformist leaders staying abroad, he added.

He alleged that Mannan Bhuiyan was compelled to leave a posh hotel in Singapore and was later forced to leave Bangladeshi-dominated Serangul area.

Hannan Shah claimed that although Mannan Bhuiyan left Dhaka for Singapore for treatment, but he could not confirm about his treatment at any hospital or clinic in Singapore.

"Rather, Mannan Bhuiyan has been in Singapore for preparing his next political plan," he said.

When contacted, front ranking reformist leader and BNP Advisory Council Member Major General (retd) ZA Khan rejected Hannan Shah's allegation against Mannan Bhuiyan as absurd.

Hannan Shah said when restrictions on politics would be lifted, many political entities will go to hibernation. "Those leaders who sided with Mannan Bhuiyan have already deserted him," he further claimed.

Hannan Shah said many of those leaders, who have sided with Mannan Bhuiyan told him that they went to Mannan Bhuiyan to "protect their skins."

On BNP election symbol, he said BNP is united under Begum Zia's leadership and the entire commitee is with them. Therefore, he said, the party's election symbol-sheaf of paddy-belongs to them.

About the release of Khaleda Zia, he said Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain net the lawyers yesterday and decided to move the High Court for her release.