The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain yesterday made it clear that he wants reunification of the party without the top expelled leaders, including his predecessor Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, and the reform proposals.

Ruling out the possibility of reconciliation with the reformist group of the party, Khandaker Delwar Hossain yesterday at a press conference said, "It will not be possible on my part to reconcile with the reformist BNP faction if they do not scrap the decision taken by the party's National Standing Committee on October 29 last year."

On October 29, 2007, the BNP National Standing Committee at a meeting with M Saifur Rahman in the chair at his Gulshan residence took three decisions-1) restoration of membership of expelled Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, Joint Secretary General Ashraf Hossain and Office Secretary Mofiqul Hasan Triptee, 2) appointed Saifur Rahman as Acting Chairman and Major (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed as Acting Secretary General and 3) carry through the reform of the party.

While, the Standing Committee restored Ashraf Hossain and Mofiqul Hasan Triptee's respective party positions it made Mannan Bhuiyan a Standing Committee member. However, Standing Committee member Dr RA Gani, who was present at the meeting, aired his disagreement with its decision two days later and joined the anti-reformist group led by Khandaker Delwar.

Acting BNP Chairman M Saifur Rahman and Acting Secretary General Major Hafi repeatedly announced recently that they were ready to relinquish their respective posts for the sake of the reunification of the party.

Saifur Rahman on Thursday regretted that the unity move could not make headway due to the reluctance of Khandaker Delwar Hossain, who was appointed Secretary General by party Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia immediately before her arrest. She had also purged Mannan Bhuiyan and Ashraf Hossain simultaneously in a separate order at the same time.

Terming the October 29 meeting of the Standing Committee an 'illegal meeting', Khandaker Delwar Hossain yesterday said any unity with M Saifur Rahman's faction of the party might be possible if they repeal their decisions taken on October 29 meeting.

After the announcements of Saifur Rahman and Major Hafiz that they would relinquish their positions as Acting Chairman and Acting Secretary General for the unity, two decisions remains-1) restoration of Mannan Bhuiyan as a Standing Committee member, Ashraf Hossain and Triptee to their previous positions and the reform agenda-which Khandaker Delwar demanded of the refomrist leaders to repeal before reconciliation.

Delwar Hossain told the press conference at his NAM flat residence that the Government was abusing the emergency powers rules by curbing basic human rights enshrined in the Constitution.

"The emergency is being used as a tool of political torture," he said, protesting the rearrest of party Advisory Council member ASM Hannan Shah and the arratest of Jubo Dal General Secretary Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, a former MP.

The former Chief Whip said, "Parliament's purpose is to formulate the law. The country cannot run by enacting ordinances outside Parliament."

He pointed to the recent High Court ruling that declared it illegal to try any cases under the emergency powers rules.

Khandaker Delwar also reiterated his call for the release and medical treatment of BNP's senior joint secretary general Tarique Rahman, and brother Arafat Rahman Koko-both in detention.

"Tarique Rahman was tortured in remand. His medical report has proved that," he alleged.

The BNP Secretary General also demanded a probe into the death of Dhaka City Corporation commissioner Md Qayyum Khan, who died in Dhaka Central Jail Friday.

Demanding of the Government to lift the state of emergency, Delwar Hossain said in the name of state of emergency, basic rights of a political party cannot be denied.

He said the state of emergency is already in place for more than a year, which is unprecedented in any democracy.

Besides, he said, the foreign dignitaries who are visiting the country made clear observations about lifting of the emergency and holding the elections quickly to hand over power to elected representatives.

"The present critical situation is gradually deepening," Delwar Hossain said, adding the government must take a positive view about politicians to hold elections as per the roadmap.

He reiterated the demand for the release of the two detained former Prime Ministers Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina, withdrawal of the emergency and lifting restrictions on open politics for the welfare of the country.

Delwar Hossain once again rejected the notion of a national government, saying that it is unconstitutional and BNP does not support it.