The New Nation - Internet Edition

Rafiqul Islam Azad

A senior leader of pro-Khaleda faction of BNP has taken a fresh move to reunite two factions of the party amid multiple crisis and twist and turns in the leadership.

BNP chairperson's adviser Brig Gen (Retd) ASM Hannan Shah took the initiative after Saifur Rahman's statement that he was no longer chairman of the party; rather Begum Khaleda Zia is the chairperson of the party.

As part of the initiative, the outspoken BNP leader held an exclusive meeting with former secretary general of BNP Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan at a Gulshan residence in the city on Thursday.

During the two-hour meeting, they discussed different issues, including the strategies and means to reunite the party factions.

Sources, however, said leaders of pro-Khaleda faction of BNP including its secretary general Khondoker Delwar

Hossain are in the dark about the move of Hannan Shah, who earlier had taken such initiatives for reunification of the party, but failed.

They observed reunification of the BNP depends on them and no discussion would be successful without consulting its secretary general Khondoker Delwar Hossain.

Leaders of pro-reformist faction of BNP are holding series of meetings and reviewing the latest development in the political arena and overall situation in the party following Saifur Rahman's statement, which frustrated them to stay in previous position.

A number of leaders of reformist group including, ZA Khan, Zahir Uddin Swapan, Nazir Hossain, Ali Newaz Khaiyam, Dr Ziaul Haque Mollah, Abdul Khaleq Chantu, Shahiduzzaman Beltu, Delwar Hossain Khan Dulu, Anwarul Islam Khan Chowdhury, Shakhawat Hossain Bakul, Mofiqul Hassan Tripti and Nabiullah Nabi yesterday met acting secretary general Maj (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed at his Banani residence in the city.

Leaders of reformist faction do not want to make any comment on the move of Hannan Shah. However, sources said they are still sticking to their stand to bring about reform in the party.

They are hopeful about reunification of the party and continuing the discussion among the party leadership about the possibility of unity.

After determination of the party stand, an announcement may come out within a couple of days, sources indicated.

Talking to The New Nation, Brig Hannan Shah admitted that he had held a meeting with Mannan Bhuiyan.

Asked about the possibility of reunification of the party, the outspoken leader said the reformist leaders now are reviewing the situation and would take a decision soon.

He, however, said that if they want to be reunited they should abide by the decision of Begum Khaleda Zia and cancel the resolution of October 29 meeting from where the reformist faction was formed.

Meanwhile, Khondoker Delwar Hossain yesterday called upon partymen to remain united saying, "You must not be frustrated. "BNP remained united. "We will come out successful by tearing down the nets of the conspirators."

He said this while party leaders of Rajshahi and Natore districts who met him at his NAM Flat residence.