The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Most of the once-trusted cabinet colleagues of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia were conspicuously absent from receiving her when she was set free from detention yesterday nor did they join her at the mazar of Ziaur Rahman and the party central office.

Informed sources said known as reformist in BNP, they refrained from attending the scheduled programme of the party to avoid a repeat of an ugly incident when some of them were physically assaulted when they went to greet Tarique Rahman, senior joint secretary general, on his release from detention last week.

Prominent among the reformist leaders, M Saifur Rahman and Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan declined to respond to telephone calls. Major (rtd) Hafizuddin Ahmed, who was acting secretary general of the group, expressed satisfaction at the release of Khaleda Zia.

Asked why he did not attend the party programme to greet the chairperson, Hafiz said he wanted to avoid 'scrambles and huddles'.

"Could be," he replied when asked if the reformist leaders were apprehensive of assault by the loyalists in the party.

Expressing his unflinching faith in the leadership of Khaleda Zia, Hafiz said she (Khaleda) was today found positive. She wanted unity in the party, forging total unity and advancing for taking part in the election.

Replying to another question he said, "Things will be clear in a couple of days … We hope the chairperson will review the situation in right perspective."

BNP standing-committee member Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, another reformist leader, told UNB that the issue of loyalist and reformist closed today with the release of the party chairperson.

He termed 'ugly' the incident when some of the party leaders were subjected to physical assault on the day Tarique Rahman was released from detention last week. He also admitted that reformist leaders abstained from greeting Khaleda Zia for fear of reprisal from the loyalists.

"Such incidents will certainly cause serious dent to the party," he added.