The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Former BNP Vice-Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Mir Showkat Ali on Saturday termed illegal Saifur-Hafiz committee in accordance with the BNP constitution.

"The committee was formed beyond the BNP constitutional jurisdiction as any meeting of the party's standing committee must be convened with the permission of Chairperson Khaleda Zia," he told reporters at his Gulshan house.

He said that according to the BNP constitution, the party Chairperson holds absolute power. Showkat questioned whether or not Saifur Rahman or his followers sought any permission from the authorities concerned to meet detained Khaleda and apprise her of the standing committee meeting. He alleged that Saifur and Hafiz were making misleading statements about the BNP constitution and legitimacy of their committee. "Rather, they advised Begum Zia to oust Col. Oli and me," he said, adding unity in BNP is not be possible by bringing together 30 or so ex-MPs.