The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Detained former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia has directed her party leaders to participate in the coming general elections, with or without her.

Her counsel Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon, who met her on Friday at the Special Jail on the premises of Parliament building, told a private TV channel yesterday.

Meanwhile, BNP Acting Chairman M Saifur Rahman yesterday welcomed Begum Zia's call for reunification of the party.

The former Finance Minister, who was appointed by the BNP Standing Committee late last year as the party Acting Chairman and Major (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed as Acting Secretary General thereby creating a separate party faction parallel to the one led by Begum Zia appointed Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hoosain, appreciated her call in an exclusive interview with Channel I private tv yesterday.

"I shall not block the way of the reunification of the party," M Saifur Rahman said, adding, "To my mind, Begum Zia will have reconsider her decision to expel two party leaders (Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and Ashraf Hossain) if she wants unity of the party."

Dropping a broad hint that he would relinquish his post for its reunification, the top BNP reformist made the comment a day after his meeting with Khandaker Delwar appointed Acting Office Secretary Rizvee Ahmed.

Party sources said Rizvee Ahmed might have conveyed Saifur Rahman a message from Begum Zia, who is dictating her party through her lawyers, who often visit her in the prison.

Rizvee Ahmed visited Saifur Rahman's Gulshan residence on Friday evening.

Earlier, Saifur had an exclusive meeting with Major Hafiz at his residence.