The New Nation - Internet Edition

M. Syfullah

Future of pro-reform BNP leaders is mired in uncertainty, as they seem to have no hope of survival unless they forge unity with the mainstream BNP led by Begum Khaleda Zia.

The reformist faction has virtually gone into hibernation following the comment of its acting chairman M Saifur Rahman on the eve of his departure abroad a few months ago.

Saifur Rahman said Begum Khaleda Zia is only the Chairperson of the BNP. None but Begum Zia's BNP would be acceptable to the people, he added.

Lt Gen Mahbubur Rahman, a leader of the BNP reformist faction said yesterday over phone that unity in BNP is essential.

"We are waiting for the unity, participation in the dialogue and contesting the national election unitedly. We responded for the unity without condition attached, " he added.

"We think time is ripe for forging unity as Awami League is stronger than BNP so far as unity of the party is concerned. BNP should go to the election under a united platform," he noted.

He also demanded the release of Begum Zia and her son Tarique Rahman for better medical treatment abroad.

Mahbubur Rahman made it clear that they would not go to the election separately.

He said election was the pre-condition to overcome the crisis facing the country at the moment.

When contacted over cellphone, Brig Hannan Shah, adviser to the BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, said the issue of unity of the two factions of BNP now remains stuck up because of BNP secretary general Khandoker Delwar Hossain.

He said obstacles in the way of unity will be removed with the release of Begum Zia and hoped that she would be set free within couple of days. But so far, no instruction on the unity has come from Khaleda Zia, he added.

Before her arrest, Begum Zia expelled incumbent BNP Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan from the party and nominated Khandoker Delwar Hossain as secretary general of BNP on September 3 last year. Afterwards, leaders of the reformist faction made Saifur Rahman and Maj Hafiz acting chairperson and secretary general of the BNP at a meeting on October 29, 2007.

At the one stage BNP reformist faction tried to join dialogue with the Election Commission and the Government and to participate the general election claiming their faction as the mainstream of the BNP. Now the reformist faction has become totally silent and waiting for the unity.