The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Rejecting the preconditions put up by top leader of the party's anti-reformist group, BNP Acting Chairman M Saifur Rahman yesterday said there would be no unity talks with party Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain unless the latter withdraws his preconditions.

"We want unity, but Khandaker Delwar is against it. How Delwar, who does not even believe in Begum Kahleda Zia's message about unity, could want unity in BNP," Saifur told journalists after meeting with party leaders, including 42 former MPs, at his Gulshan residence last afternoon.

Standing Committee members Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf, Acting Secretary General Maj (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed, Maj Gen (retd) ZA Khan, Mofazzal Karim, Shah Mohammad Abul Hossain, Prof Rezaul Karim and MA Hakim.

Recently, Khandaker Delwar Hossain, who was appointed Secretary General purging the incumbent by party Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia moments before her arrest in October last year, set three preconditions-1) scrapping of the decision of October 29 Standing Committee meeting, 2) leaving of the reform agenda and 3) left the fate of expelled party leaders, including former Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, uncertain-before the unity.

"Unity talks can only continue if Khandaker Delwar withdraw his preconditions," Saifur Rahman said, adding that the leaders of his faction would continue the effort for the reunification of the party as per the detained Chairperson's directive.

Imprisoned former Prime Minister Begum Zia, through her lawyers, recently asked leaders of her divided party to get united immediately and unify the 'nationalist force' before the coming general elections. She had also asked them to join elections even without her.

Saifur Rahman said unity was not possible until Delwar group changes its mindset and drops the precondition. "If Delwar does not lift his precondition, there will be no talks."

Briefing journalists Maj Hafiz said the meeting welcomed Begum Zia's "message for unity" in the BNP. "The unity must be achieved at any cost," he asserted.

He regretted that Saifur Rahman also called for unity, but Khandaker Delwar Hossain did not respond to it.

Hafiz said they were hurt by the remarks from a senior leader like Khandaker Delwar regarding the precondition for reunification. "Begum Zia did not speak about any precondition, but Delwar is setting conditions."

He said Saifur Rahman, being the senior most in the party hierarchy, was made Acting Chairman to run BNP in absence of Begum Zia.

The moment unity will be reached giving BNP a complete shape, he would quit his responsibility as Acting Secretary General, Hafiz said. "We will do our best to forge the unity based on the message of our leader."

Defending reforms in BNP, he said there is no alternative to it, as Begum Zia also wants reforms in the party. To establish the ideals of late President Zia as well as honest leadership, reforms are essential.