Khulna BNP leaders are divided over allegiance to party chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia or reformist leader and expelled party secretary general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan. But most of the front ranking party leaders contacted by this correspondent declined to make any direct comment.

Former lawmaker and president of Khulna city BNP M Nurul Islam said only time would tell who is right and who is wrong. He said he neither supports expulsion of former BNP whip Ashraf Hossain nor the recent political stand taken by him (former whip) against the leadership of party chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.

“I will take more time to comment on the future of BNP”, said Nurul Islam who was seen at several meetings of 'reformists' held at the residence of party secretary general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan.

However, member secretary of Khulna city BNP convening committee Shaharuzzaman Martuza was open in making comment. He thanked Begum Zia for expelling Mannan Bhuiyan and Ashraf Hossain.

“The party has been benefited greatly as they were trying to split

BNP. There are more people who must be expelled for anti-party activities pretending to be reformists”, he said.

Former general secretary of Khulna district and city BNP Nazrul Islam Manju and advocate Shafiqul Alam Mona said things will be clear after lifting the ban on politics.

They avoided a direct reply about allegiance to Begum Zia or Mannan Bhuiyan but expressed sympathy with the party chief.

It would be proved who is stronger only after lifting of ban on indoor politics, they said.

They said Begum Zia should get justice in trial of the case filed against her. They reserved comments when asked whether they thought the allegations against her were correct.

President of Daulatpur upazila BNP Sheikh Mosharraf Hossain said he belonged to the 'mainstream' of BNP. Most leaders and activists of Daulatpur thana BNP are with Begum Zia and not with reformist group, said Mosharraf Hossain who so long belonged to city Mayor-Ashraf faction of Khulna BNP.

President of Khalishpur thana BNP SM Abdur Rahman and its secretary advocate Fazle Halim Liton said they are with the mainstream and not with 'so called

reformists'.

“We have already withdrawn our support from Ashraf Hossain who is involved in conspiracy to split BNP”, said Abdur Rahman. President of Khanjahan Ali thana unit of BNP Mir Kaised Ali and its secretary Sheikh Iqbal Hossain said they wanted reforms in the party with Begum Zia as chairperson.

They condemned Ashraf Hossain for being 'ungrateful' to Begum Zia.

Prominent Labour leader and a member of BNP central committee Abdul Malek said Ashraf Hossain has already lost support of leaders and activists of the party in Khulna-3 constituency (Khalishpur-Daulatpur and Khanjahan Ali thanas) who elected him lawmaker twice.

“He has destroyed his career in BNP for opposing Begum Khaleda Zia”, he said.

Meanwhile, only 30 party men form three thana units of BNP attended a meeting held Friday evening at Ashraf Hossain's residence to discuss reform measures under leadership of Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan.

Participants in the meeting were mostly youths who were once cadres of the former whip, said general secretary of Khalishpur thana BNP advocate Fazle Halim Liton.