The pro-reform BNP leaders have apparently retreated from their move lo launch a cleansing drive to free the party of corrupt leaders fearing negative impact since a few among themselves could be identified as corrupt.

Tlw formation of an inquiry committee announced earlier to Identify die corrupt leaders in the parly now seems uncertain. But a few prn-reform leaders told The Daily Star that the probe body might be formed in future.

"We are now busy with making preparations for holding the

party's national council ’Fhe formation of such a committee will be considered later," BNP Vice-President Major (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed told The Daily Star.

BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, who unveiled the 15-point reform proposals on June 25, said an inquiry committee will be formed soon lo take action against leaders Involved in corruption, nepotism and misuse of power and liras are responsible for the party's current disaster.

A number of senior BNP leaders, however, said the announcement was nothing but an attempt to draw people's attention. The party

does not have any mechanism to identify leaders involved in corruption. they said requesting anonym -ity.

The pro-reform leaders cannot even take action against any leader for their alleged involvement in corruption since the pro-reform leaders have a few corrupt among themselves, they observed.

If formed, such a probe body would pick up the already’ detained leaders and avoid those who are in favour of the reforms, they explained.

A senior leader said he is not interested to be a member of any such committee. He said while preparing the reform proposals they discussed whether a cleansing drive shall be launched but did not discuss its ways.

The pro-reform leaders said they do not want to initiate any step that may trigger further controversy in the party. The government knows very well about the corrupt leaders and its intelligence agencies have adequate information; the government will help the pro-reform leaders to cleanse the BNP, they said.

A number of these leaders meanwhile said the possibility of forming such a committee in future is also slim. They however said the leaders involved in corruption will get immunity if the reform agenda is implemented without launching the cleansing drive.

BNP Standing Committee Member and former lawmaker Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman told The Daily Star that the inquiry committee should be formed according to the party secretary general's announcement.

"Of course, we want to launch a cleansing drive to oust the corrupt and dishonest leaders from the party," he said. However, asked if there is any progress regarding formation of the body, he replied in the negative.

Since June 25 the pro-reform leaders led by Bhuiyan have been putting all the energy to hold national council soon to implement the reform proposals including one to dislodge Khaleda Zia from the post of chairperson.

Contacted by The Daily Star, former BNP lawmaker Sardar Sakhawat Hossain Bakul, who is facing an extortion case, said they are working to hold the national council but he refused to make any comment on the formation of the probe body.