The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Former BNP secretary general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan yesterday said that the release of former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia would ensure unity within the party.

"There will be no more divisions within the party if Begum Khaleda Zia is released," he said while talking to reporters at his Gulshan residence in the city.

He hoped that the party would be able to contest the next election unitedly.

Mannan Bhuiyan, who was released from jail on bail in the GATCO case, said he believed unity in the party was urgent.

"Unity among the nationalist forces is very important," he observed.

Regarding the proposals for party reform the BNP leader said the party council would take a final decision on the matter after the release of the Chairperson.

"I have submitted a reform proposal to make the party stronger and more acceptable to the people. But the proposal is nothing final he said adding, "The party council will decide whether the reform proposal will be accepted or not."

Mannan Bhuiyan said there was misunderstanding among the reformists of the party resulting in a string of confusion.

He lauded the High Court ruling allowing political parties to participate directly in local government elections.

A High Court bench on Thursday ruled unconstitutional and illegal the restrictions on participation by political parties in local government polls.

It was a right ruling as representatives of political parties contested in local elections, so political involvement cannot be stopped through law," he observed.

He, however, said that after being elected, the person concerned would have to play a non-partisan role.