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BNP rebels want reforms, unification

Staff Correspondent
Leaders of the pro-Saifur faction of BNP yesterday in a meeting decided to bring reforms in the constitution of the party before unifying the party.
However, Maj (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, acting secretary general of the faction, during a press briefing following the closed-door meeting at his Banani residence, said, "We want the implementation of reforms and the unification simultaneously." A united BNP will participate in the next election, Hafiz added.
The faction leaders attending the meeting expressed their resentment over the pro-Khaleda faction
leaders' attitude toward the unification proposal of the Saifur faction. "Did we commit a sin by supporting the reform proposal? We placed the proposal for the welfare of the party," a former lawmaker said during the meeting.
They said a few of the leaders who became leaders due to the recent internal conflict in the party are the only barriers to the unity of the party.
"Implementation of reforms is a must for the party — even more important than unity," a Saifur-loyalist leader told the Daily Star following tite meeting.
BNP standing committee members Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, party chairperson’s advisers Mofazzal Kanm, ZA Khan and MA Hakim, former lawmakers Abdul Alim, Nasirul Haque Sabu, Shah Abul Hossain, Zahiruddin Swapan, Ataur Rahman Angur, SA Sultan Titu, Masud Arun, Ziaul Haque Mollah, Nazir Hossain, Shahiduzzaman, Tasmeen Rana, Sharia Hossain Bulu and Shammi Sher attended the meeting presided by Hafiz.
Although about 100 former lawmakers and senior leaders had expressed their solidarity to Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan after he was expelled from the party by its chair-person Khaleda Zia in last September, only 19 former lawmakers and senior leaders attended the meetingyesterday.
Bhuiyan unveiled his reform proposal in June last year to turn the party democratic.
Terming yesterday's meeting a 'routine' one, Hafiz told reporters that such meetings are held regularly. Paradoxically, Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman on Tuesday told The Daily Star that they could not sit in a meeting for a long time.
Asked about the unification process, Hafiz said," Ball is in their [pro-Khaleda faction] court now... let's see what they say, but most of the former lawmakers and party leaders are with us."
Mannan Bhuiyan said reform is a must for the survival of the party. He shrugged off the news of his’ difference of opinion with Hafiz, said a source.