BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan has expressed hope that the four advisers, who stepped down yesterday, would join their posts again and carry out their duties once the president and chief adviser has a talk with them.

"I hope they will withdraw their resignations after the president talks to them and continue their activities as advisers to the caretaker government for holding a free and fair election," he said at a press briefing yesterday at the BNP Central Office in Dhaka.

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The advisers who quit Chief Adviser Iajuddin Ahmed's cabinet are -- Akbar Ali Khan, Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury, CM Shafi Sami and Sultana Kamal.

In reply to a question on the resignation of these advisers, the BNP secretary general observed that to express agreement or disagreement in a decision-making process is a common affair in the democracy, " but finally a decision must be taken, there is no alternative at all."

Asked about the advisers' stance against the president's unilateral decision on army deployment across the country, he said that the president is empowered to take such steps and it is also his responsibility to ensure peace and security.

On the president's speech delivered on Sunday night, Bhuiyan said that there is nothing to accept or reject about the president's speech as he can make a speech to the people at any time.

BNP Joint Secretary General Goyeshwar Chandra Roy and

Jubo Dal President Barkat Ullah Bulu were present, among others, in the briefing.

The four advisers have been facing resentment from the BNP leaders during the last couple of weeks.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia severely criticised the advisers after all of them attended a meeting hosted by Akbar Ali Khan at a state guesthouse where the chief adviser were not present. The BNP chief also accused the advisers of breaching oaths for doing so.

Besides, the BNP secretary general formally demanded resignation of advisers CM Shafi Sami and Sultana Kamal after they called on Awami League (AL) chief Sheikh Hasina at her Dhanmondi residence on the president's directive.

Akbar Ali Khan and Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury have been criticised by other leaders of the party for their outspoken comments to the media. Even a BNP standing committee member reportedly threatened Akbar during a meeting with the president.