Expelled BNP secretary general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, who claims his faction to be the mainstream of the party, yesterday proposed that former finance minister M Saifur Rahman take charge of the BNP.

Sources said Saifur did not turn down Bhuiyan's proposal but said he is not fit for the post due to illness. Saifur once again expressed his full support to the initiatives undertaken by Bhuiyan to strengthen the party through reforms.

Bhuiyan met Saifur at the latter's Gulshan residence yesterday and gave the proposal.

BNP Secretary General

Khandaker Delwar Hossain yesterday blamed Bhuiyan for hatching conspiracy against the party and said reforms will be implemented following party constitution, not Bhuiyan's design.

"He [Bhuiyan] has drawn a unique reform proposal to implement his own desires," Delwar told reporters at his NAM apartment house yesterday. "What he has done following his expulsion is part of a conspiracy against the party," Delwar added.

Sources said the faction of BNP led by Delwar wants to pass time as a strategy to gain control over the situation. The newly appointed secretary general will meantime talk to leaders at the district and upazila levels for their support and

cooperation to maintain unity at the grassroots level.

A few leaders from Dhaka, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Bhola and Barguna yesterday met Delwar at his residence to express their solidarity with the leadership of detained party chief Khaleda Zia.

Talking to reporters Delwar yesterday once again asserted that the BNP has only one stream and that is under the leadership of Chairperson Khaleda Zia. "There is nothing called 'mainstream' of BNP," he said.

He blamed Bhuiyan for not initiating any reform during his 11-year tenure as the party secretary general. He, however, said the BNP has undergone many reforms since 1991 and more reforms might be brought about according to the proposal of the party councillors.

Asked about the right way of implementing reforms Delwar said, "The councillors will submit proposals to the party secretary general who will convene the council with permission of the party chairperson for approving those proposals."

Delwar said the party will consider if Mannan Bhuiyan, who lost his primary membership of the party for his present stance, wants to get back his membership.

"We want to strengthen the BNP and whoever wants to join the party is welcome," he said when asked if they will accept if the expelled leaders want to come back.

Meanwhile, Mannan Bhuiyan yesterday once again said BNP will go to power through participating in the next election after imple-

menting the reforms.

"We will secure victory in the coming election after reorganising the party through reforms," Bhuiyan told reporters at his Gulshan residence. He once again asserted that they are the mainstream BNP and are getting immense response from party leaders and workers for strengthening the party through reforms.

Sources said the faction led by Bhuiyan is communicating with former lawmakers and district level leaders for support to hold the party council to implement the reforms.

MEMORANDUM TO

BAN KI-MOON

BNP supporters in New York demonstrated in front of the United Nations office on Friday and submitted a memorandum to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

The US BNP chapter organised the demonstration under the banner of "Khaleda Zia Freedom

International Movement".

The BNP leaders in the US handed the memorandum to UN Deputy Secretary General Elin R Alradiar, accusing the Bangladesh government of violating human rights.

BNP leaders Abul Hashem Bulbul, Zillur Rahman Zillu, Sharafat Hossain Babu and Belal Mahmud were present at the event.

In the memorandum, the BNP leaders demanded immediate release of Khaleda Zia, withdrawal of the state of emergency in Bangladesh, and holding of parliament elections at the earliest.

Bulbul quoted the UN deputy secretary general as saying that they are observing the situation in Bangladesh and expecting that the government will hold the elections within the timeframe. The UN will not remain silent if human rights are violated in Bangladesh, the official said.