The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The reunification move between the rival factions of the BNP appeared to have been gaining ground, as BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain yesterday called for unity of the party.

The anti-reform BNP leader expressed his readiness to consider a formal proposal for unity from the reformist faction.

When asked, Joint Secretary General of the reformist BNP Ashraf Hossain said backstage parleys were on between the leaders of the two factions and the reformists were trying to keep the party united.

Some members of the BNP National Standing Committee, the highest policy making body of the party, took the move considering that a formal split in the party will only strengthen the hands of the rival Awami League (AL)-led political camp.

"Unity is essential to strengthen BNP. If formal proposal for unity comes from the dissidents, it will be considered," he said, extending the olive branch to those who are campaigning for party's political and leadership reform under the blowing wind of change kicked off by the interim regime. Talking to journalists at his NAM apartment, the recently appointed BNP secretary general, who replaced dissident Mannan Bhuiyan by order of

the party chief, however, dispelled the notion that BNP has split up. "BNP remains united," he said.

He noted that many leaders and workers of district and thana committees are facing cases while many central leaders are in jail. "There is no atmosphere even to protest against their arrest."

The BNP secretary general again urged the caretaker government to let them open their central office now that indoor politics is allowed through relaxing the rules of the state of emergency.

Reformist BNP leader Ashraf Hossain said they would continue their efforts to keep BNP united.

He said reform proposals were made to make BNP acceptable. Those proposals would be endorsed at the council. "If anyone brings amendment to the draft proposals, that would be considered," said Ashraf.

"The BNP could not be strengthen unless a democratic reforms is carried out in the party," Ashraf Hossain asserted, claiming the reformists are the majority in the party.

BNP Chairperson's Adviser Brig Gen (retd) ASM Hannan Shah, however, said, "Dreams of the reformists will remain mere dreams. It will never come true," he said.

Hannan Shah said if the BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia could not be released by legal means, efforts would be made "politically" to free her.