The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The formal discussion between the BNP and its four-party alliance partners over the electoral reforms and other issues will begin after the invitation from the Election Commission.

Secretary General of the reformist BNP Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan said this yesterday while talking to journalists after a meeting at his Gulshan residence.

"We have already made contacts with other partners four-party alliance on this issue," said.

Echoing the same view, reformist Joint Secretary General Ashraf Hossain said they would also communicate with other pro-nationalist political parties after the reopening of political activities in the country.

He said the reformists have been working to establish the ideals of national in the party through democratisation, for which reforms is necessary.

Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain said the four-party alliance remains united but they could not hold any meeting among them (BNP) or with the alliance's partners due to the closure of BNP central office.

Talking to journalists at his NAM Building apartment, he said despite rift, Ershad's Jatiya Party's office was opened. He posed the question as to why the BNP central office would be kept under lock and key, though BNP remains united?

"I want to sit with leaders of four-party alliance along with BNP leaders and workers at the party office at Naya Paltan," he said, without elaborating his problems to sit elsewhere.

Delwar complained that BNP leaders and workers from different districts including Jhalkathi and Barisal wanted to meet him in Dhaka but so-called reformists of BNP were intimidating them.

He said, "As they wanted to meet me, the launch they were traveling was seized by BNP reformists who threatened that those who will meet me will not be allowed to return or cases will be filed against them."

Reformist BNP leader Major (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed asked Khandaker Delwar to refrain from mudslinging for the sake of the unity of the party.

"The BNP must remain united and participate in the general elections to

ensure the party's win," he told journalists after the reformists' meeting at Mannan Bhuiyan's residence.

He said there might be differences in the BNP on certain issues, which does not mean that the BNP has been divided.

Major Hafiz said since the Chairperson is in jail, her instructions might not have reached to party leader correctly. This, he said, perhaps led some leader to make confusing statements.