The portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was removed from the cabinet room of the Sangsad Bhaban before the first meeting of the BNP parliamentary party (BNPPP) began there at about 8:00 pm yesterday.

The portrait was hung on Friday.

Some Sangsad staff, who removed the portrait at about 7.40 pm. said they did so under orders from former chief whip of the BNP and now an MP from the party Khandakar Del war Hossain.

Khandakar Delwar, however. told newsmen later he was not aware of anything in this regard.

According to witnesses. BNP lawmaker Maj (retd) Akhteruzzaman earlier had debate with Khandakar Delwar and other MPs of his party at the cabinet room on removal of Bangabandhu's portrait.

Akhteruzzaman argued that the BNP should first decide its stand on the Awami League government’s decision of hanging the portrait of Sheikh Mu-jib and then, if needed, protest it in the House or in any other forum. "We did not hang the portrait. It does not matter if it remains in the room or not," he said as he came under fire from his party colleagues. None of the BNP top leaders including party Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan supported his contention.

Akhteruzzaman also reiterated his argument at the BNPPP meeting.