The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Pro-Khaleda BNP faction led by Khondoker Delwar Hossain yesterday demanded resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and two Election Commissioners and announced that they would not take part in the parliamentary elections under this Election Commission.

Secretary General of the faction Khondoker Delwar Hossain made demand while talking to reporters at his NAM apartment after a meeting with party's senior leaders.

He also said that BNP leaders and workers all over the country already have declared him 'persona non-grata'.

The demand was made a day after the Election Commission sent letter to his rival, reformist BNP leader Maj (Retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed, for the dialogue on electoral reforms.

Meanwhile, acting chairperson M Saifur Rahman and acting secretary general Maj (Retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed of reformist faction of BNP yesterday submitted a petition to the jail authority for permission to meet detained BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia to seek her direction for running the party.

Begum Khaleda Zia is now in jail. We have to talk to her on important issues. We need the direction to run the organisation, that's why we seek permission from the jail authority to meet her, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed told reporters at his residence yesterday.

However, Deputy Inspector General (Prisons) told reporters that the request of reformist faction of BNP to meet Begum Zia would not be accepted, as the Jail Code does not allow this. Khondoker Delwar alleged that despite request by five standing-committee members of BNP to invite him as legitimate secretary general, the CEC sent letter to the breakaway faction.

He reminded that the Commission's prime task is to hold the general election under the Constitution, but holding the constitutional post the CEC is acting beyond his constitutional jurisdiction.

Asked if BNP will announce agitation programme to realise the EC's resignation, he said people are ready to go for agitation to get rid of the prevailing unbearable situation.

The BNP secretary general alleged that the present caretaker government assumed power under a blueprint to split political parties and hold elections by banishing the two former Prime Ministers.

He said different quarters of the government are pressing BNP leaders and former MPs to work with the 'government-manufactured BNP.

Referring to the arrest of standing-committee member Chowdhury Tanvir Ahmed Siddiqui and threatening another member Shamsul Islam over telephone he said it is unprecedented.

BNP leaders Dr RA Gani, Brig Gen (rtd) Hannan Shah, Nazrul Islam

Khan, Selima Rahman and Rizvi Ahmed were among others present.

Hafiz Uddin Ahmed said that he has got the EC letter and urged their rival faction to forge unity. "Let us be united, even if it costs the posts in the organisation.

"We talked about the unity open-heartedly and Saifur Rahman contacted senior leaders, including Khandakar Delwar, but we failed to get any response from him," he added.

He claimed that more than 90 percent former parliament members lent their support to them in writing.

About his proposals to the EC at April 27 dialogue, he said that he would place the demands for a black money, musclemen and terrorism-free election.