The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Demanding the release of two detained former Prime Ministers-Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina before the Independent Day (March 26), a number of former MPs yesterday in a joint statement alleged that the two top political leaders of the country were implicated in 'false cases' only because they lead two major political parties.

BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and Awami League President (AL) Sheikh Hasina, who alternatively held the office of the Prime Minister since the restoration of multi-party democracy and introduction of the constitutional provision to hold parliamentary elections under a non-party Caretaker Government in 1991, were facing trial on a number of separate corruption charges. BNP Joint Secretary General Begum Selima Rahman, who readout the statement at a press conference at BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain NAM Flat residence, claimed that it was signed by as many 118 former MPs and leaders of the party. However, only 32 former BNP MPs were present at the press conference.

The statement also demanded of the Government and the Election Commission to hold election to Parliament before polls to the local government institutions, including that of the upazilas.

When asked, one of the many Organising Secretaries of the party Mohammad Shajahan, a former legislator from greater Noakhali district, said the reunification of BNP now depends on its reformist leaders, including Acting Chairman M Saifur Rahman and Acting Secretary General Maj (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed.

BNP Secretary General Khandkar Delwar Hossain, who leads the anti-reform group of the party, is now undergoing treatment in the US.

However, the absence of three most senior leaders after Delwar Hossain of the anti-reform faction of the BNP-Advisory Council member Brig Gen (retd) ASM Hannan Shah, Joint Secretary General and BNP Spokesman Nazrul Islam Khan and Joint Secretary General Gayeswar Chandra Roy created confusions at the press conference, which, its organisers claimed to have been representing the party's mainstream led by Begum Zia.

Earlier on Friday night BNP reformist group held a meeting with Acting Chairman M Saifur Rahman at his Gulshan residence in the city.