The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

BNP standing-committee member Chowdhury Tanvir Ahmed Siddiqui was learnt to have been picked up by men of an intelligence agency but set free later yesterday , party sources said.

Chowdhury Tanvir, loyal to detained BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, could not be reached over telephone.

When contacted, BNP chairperson's Advisor Brig Gen (rtd) Hannan Shah told UNB he heard that Tanvir was arrested in the afternoon and freed at about 8:30pm. Shah said he also could not contact him by phone.

BNP joint secretary general Nazrul Islam Khan said he also heard about his arrest, but he could not contact him.

Meanwhile, BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain yesterday asked the BNP followers to give a day's meal to the hungry and distressed across the country on April 28-30.

He made the appeal to leaders and workers of BNP and its front organizations through journalists at his NAM apartment in the morning.

"At this hour of distress, BNP has decided to stand beside the distressed people. As part of our initiative, we've decided to give our one-day's meal to the needy," Delwar said.

On his party's participation in political dialogue, he said they would join the dialogue if the caretaker government and the Election Commission have sincerity for holding a credible election.

Asked about Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dr Shamsul Huda's latest remark about BNP's unity by the deadline, Delwar said: "Who is he to set the deadline for unity. BNP will run according to its constitution."

Asked if the Election Commission sends letter to Saifur-Hafiz faction for dialogue on electoral reforms, he said: "If anything is done forcibly, it will not succeed. The EC's letter must be addressed to us."

The BNP secretary general said that already five members of the standing committee, the policy-making body of BNP, sent a letter to the EC to prove the transparency of the mainstream BNP. "So, the EC cannot give letter to Saifur-Hafiz on any count."

He alleged that different agencies of the government are putting pressure on the BNP leaders to work for Saifur-Hafiz faction.

Besides, the Union Parishad chairmen from different districts are being summoned to Dhaka and briefed to ask for local body elections prior to the parliamentary elections. "These are facts and not expected. This must stop. One cannot interfere into one's independent thinking and work," Delwar said.

He said police raided the NAM apartments and village homes of BNP organizing secretary Mohammad Shajahan and former MP Principal Sohrab Hossain on Monday night, as they have sided with BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia.

He further alleged that a few days back, former MPs of BNP were forced to attend a meeting of the Saifur-Hafiz faction.