The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

BNP Standing Committee, the highest policymaking body of the party, yesterday approved joining the Government's dialogue, suspension order against Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and Ashraf Hossain and endorsed appointment of Khondoker Delwar Hossain as party Secretary General.

The approval was given at a meeting of the Standing Committee held at party central office at Naya Paltan in the city with party Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia in the chair, two days after her release from jail.

Briefing journalists BNP Secretary General Khondoker Delwar Hossain said the two-hour long meeting also approved all the activities and programmes taken by him in the absence of the party Chairperson.

The meeting, attended by eight Standing Committee members, declared the October 29 meeting of the standing committee members at the residence of M Saifur Rahman, while Khaleda was still behind bars, illegal and ineffective.

Delwar Hossain mentioned that according to the party constitution, only the chairperson could convene a standing committee meeting.

Standing Committee member Chowdhury Tanveer Ahmed Siddiqui told reporters that he proposed at the meeting that Begum Zia would lead the BNP for life for her outstanding contributions to the cause of the party and the nation.

He said the proposal was adopted at the meeting "unanimously" and Khaleda Zia has been made life Chairperson of the party.

"Minus one will never come! Begum Zia will remain Chairperson of the party as long as she lives and her health permits," he said.

The meeting, called by Begum Zia, began at 4:30pm, discussed the latest development in the political arena, socio-economic condition prevailing in the country and the planned dialogue with the government.

The meeting also discussed four adviser's informal dialogue with Khaleda Zia Friday night and her conversation with Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed over telephone.

Asked whether the BNP had fixed any date for dialogue with the government, Khondoker Delwar said they would decide in this regard after discussion with the four-party alliance.

"Date and time have not been fixed yet. We will fix them after talks with four-party alliance. Then, we will inform the government about it," he said.

The BNP Secretary General said the meeting demanded general polls before upazila elections and expressed concern at the high price of essential commodities and rising unemployment.

Centering the meeting hundreds of party leaders and activists thronged in front of the party office to see their party Chairperson who reached there at 4:05pm.

Eight, out of total 13, Standing Committee members, including M Saifur Rahman, Khondoker Delwar Hossain, Dr RA Ghani, Chowdhury Tanveer Ahmed Siddiqui, Advocate Khandaker Mahbubuddin Ahmed, Lt Gen (Retd) Mahbubur Rahman and M Shamsul Islam.

Of the total members, KM Obaidur Rahman is dead and Abdul Matin Chowdhury is sick, while Dr Khandaker Mosharraf and Barrister Moudud Ahmed are currently behind bars. Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan was expelled from the party before the arrest of party Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.