The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Vocal leaders of the BNP (anti-reform) led by Secretary General Khondoker Delwar Hossain yesterday made contradictory statements over the "ongoing process" of reunification of the party.

Brig Gen (Retd) Hannan Shah, member of the BNP Advisory Council, yesterday said that he was still hopeful about his move for unification of two groups of the party.

"But it will take time," he said while talking to reporters at his New DOHS house yesterday.

BNP Acting Office Secretary Rizvi Ahmed contradicted the statements made by Hannan Shah saying that Khondoker Delwar Hossain does not know about Hannan Shah's move for unity.

Replying to a question, Hannan Shah told reporter that most members of party Standing Committee and Central Executive Committee and grassroots workers are not with the Saifur-Hafiz faction.

Earlier, Maj (Retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed, Secretary General of other group of BNP said that the standing-committee members should take the responsibility of running BNP at this critical juncture.

About Hannan Shah's letter to Saifur Rahman he observed that instead of sending letter for unification of the party, he (Hannan Shah) could come to Saifur's house to discuss the matter over a cup of tea.

Hannan Shah, the outspoken BNP leader, said he is worried about having tea at his (Saifur's) house. "But, I will of course go to his house if he invites me. Because, I am not that discourteous," he said.

Over controversy on sending letter to Saifur Rahman, he said the matter was discussed with Khondoker Delwar Hossain but he could not discuss

the contents of the letter with him as he (Delwar) was in Singapore for treatment.

"It is not wise to discuss everything over telephone, and for that Delwar was not informed about the contents of the letter," Hannan Shah explained.

Rizvi Ahmed told reporters that Khondoker Delwar was not aware of Hannan Shah's initiative about the unity process and the letter sent to Saifur Rahman.

He informed that Delwar went to New York from Singapore to see his ailing daughter-in-law and he is expected to return to Dhaka soon.

On Rizvi Ahmed's statement, Hannan Shah said that all BNP leaders are not involved in the unity process, and he (Rizvi) is also not aware of the current development.

"Only a few leaders know about it. If it succeeds, all will be informed about it," he said.

After the 1/11 (January11, 2007) changeover, the BNP leadership got split between pro-and anti-Khaleda groups over the party's reform proposals in the changed political situation.

Some pro-reform standing-committee members met at Saifur's house at a 'tea party' on October 29 last year and appointed Saifur Rahman as acting chairperson and Maj (Retd) Hafiz acting secretary general of the party.

Earlier, BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia just before her arrest on September 3 last year appointed Khondoker Delwar Hossain as party Secretary General after expelling Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan from the post.