The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda yesterday said that the unity between the two factions of the BNP remains a far cry.

He made the observation following the submission of a letter by the reformist group BNP to prove their strength as mainstream of the party.

A 12-member delegation of the BNP reformist faction led by M Mofazzal Karim met the CEC and submit a letter signed by 54 former BNP lawmakers.

The letter requests the Commission to send invitation letter for the dialogue on electoral reform to acting secretary general of the party Maj (Retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed.

The dispatch section of the EC Secretariat, however, did not receive the letter,

as there was no list of the signatories enclosed with the letter.

Emerging from the meeting, the CEC told journalists the process of unity between the two factions of the BNP apparently seems far off.

After hectic meetings with both the groups of the BNP on Thursday the Commission had given them a timeframe of two to three days to unite that passed off yesterday but they failed.

"We are now waiting to get the High Court verdict in hand," he said, adding that they expect to get it by yesterday and the decision as to which group would get the letter, would be taken thereafter.

Talking to reporters Mofazzal Karim parried a question as to whether all the MPs were in the immediate-past parliament or not.

The letter was submitted a day after another submission of another letter signed by five standing committee members of the BNP in which they said the letter should be given to Khondoker Delwar Hossain, the secretary general of pro-Khaleda faction of BNP.

Asked if any former MPscould interfere in the party's policymaking matters according to its constitution, Karim said any leader could play role and express opinion regarding party matters.

The BNP delegation include BNP leaders ZA Khan, Dr Ziaul Huq Mollah, Ali Newaz M Khaiyum, AM Abdul Khaleque Chantu, Masud Arun, Reza Ahmed Bachchu, Nasirul Huq Sabu, Nazir Hossain, Shamim Kaiser Lincoln and Firoz Ahmed Khan.

Meanwhile, reformist leader Hafizuddin Ahmed yesterday told journalists that he is hopeful of unity in the party as soon as the Election Commission invites either of the groups for dialogue on election reforms.

"If we get the EC invitation, we will take Khondoker Delwar and associates with us for the dialogue," he said.

Asked what they will do if Delwar of loyalist group is invited Hafiz said, BNP will be united when EC invites either of the groups.