& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

Hafiz hopes for united BNP in EC talks, polls Hannan says no polls without Khaleda

UNB, Dhaka
Pro-reform BNP acting Secretary General Maj (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed yesterday reiterated that the party would unitedly participate in the April 27 dialogue with the Election Commission and also in the next general elections.
Talking to reporters at his Banani residence, Hafiz said he would again seek permission from the authorities concerned to meet detained BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
"BNP is united under the leadership of Khaleda Zia,” he said, add-ing that the leaders who are in jail noware also united.
He said senior BNP leader M Saifur Rahman is in contact with senior party leaders to keep the party united.
Democracy is gradually disappearing from the country, he said, adding that the caretaker government, which was supposed to be In power for three months, has been in power for one and a half years.
"People are doubtful whether the elections will be held or not," Hafiz said.
Meanwhile, BNP chairperson's Adviser Brig Gen (retd) Hannan Shah yesterday said the attempt of those who are planning to go for elections without BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia would be foiled by party leaders and activists.
Talking to reporters at his new DOHS house, he urged the dissenters in BNP to return to the mainstream. Otherwise, they would be banished from the country, he said.
Hannan said Maj (retd) Hafiz was not authorised to speak for BNP leaders and workers. "BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain has already declared him [Hafiz] unwanted for BNP”
He alleged that some quarters had resorted to coercive tactics to force BNP leaders and workers to join the Saifur-Hafiz faction.
“We shall resist this plan," he said, adding that BNP leaders and workers are not doing politics to implement the plans of others.
Expressing doubts about fair election under the incumbent Election Commission (EC), the BNP leader said the EC has made itself controversial through its words and deeds.
He said out of the eight standing committee members, six are with Khandaker Delwar, but the EC sent letter to Hafiz for dialogue. “We apprehend that this commission will ignore those who will get 80 percent vote and declare those elected who will get 20 percent vote."
Hannan said apart from earning on the legal battle to free Khaleda Zia, a different kind of programme would be announced reflecting the sentiment of BNP leaders and activists.
Meanwhile, Secretary General of the pro-Khaleda faction Khandaker Delwar Hossain said BNP has been
targeted by a quarter to annihilate the nationalist forces from the country, but the party’ will prevail foiling all the conspiracies against it.
“False cases are being filed against our leaders. And our Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been confined in jail. But BNP will foil all the conspiracies under her leadership." Delwar said.
He was addressing a group of leaders of BNP and its front organisations at his residence in the evening ahead of a three-day food distribution programme from April 28 at various places in the city.
BNP is the largest political party of the country and it always stands beside the people in distress. Delwar said, adding, "In the future too. Khaleda Zia's leadership will inspire us to work for the common people.”
He said the skyrocketing prices of essentials have paralysed the public life as many people are starving. He urged the party leaders and workers to make the food distribu-
tion programme a success.
Party Joint Secretary General Sclima Rahman, Prof Abdul Mannan, former lawmaker Principal Sohrab Uddin, General Secretary of city Women BNP Shirin Sultana, among others, were present on the occasion.