Hawa Bhaban men come to the fore
Using the influence of Hawa Bhaban, now defunct office of the party chairperson, these leaders had emerged as the most powerful section in BNP when the party was in power between 2001 and 2006.
Many of them are even trying to get posts in the standing and central executive committees, which are likely to be announced very soon by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia as the national council empowered her to do so.
Party Vice-chairman Tariqul Islam yesterday told reporters that the new committees would be announced within a week.
Party insiders said Khaleda Zia is now busy consulting her colleagues about forming the new committees but party leaders are divided over incumbent Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain's post.
A strong group of leaders is lobbying to keep Delwar as the secretary general while others are trying to convince the chairperson to select somebody new.
Talking to The Daily Star, a number of leaders apprehended that some controversial leaders might take control of the party if the chairperson is not cautious in selecting leaders for the new committees.
"I believe madam [Khaleda] will be alert about the controversial people who pushed the party on the verge of disaster and contributed to the causes that brought the 1/11 changeover," a member of the standing committee told The Daily Star yesterday.
These leaders who usually love to introduce themselves as "men of Tarique Rahman" had gone into hiding after the January 11, 2007 changeover. Some of them were arrested on charges like corruption and crime.
They faced criticism within the party for their activities that resulted in the bad image of Hawa Bhaban.
Now these leaders are calling themselves "dedicated in bad times" and are creating a situation in the party so that the high-ups consider them "pro-Tarique" leaders, said insiders.
A few leaders with better public image, who had played important roles during the emergency period, have also joined those leaders to obtain posts in the two committees, sources added.
Party insiders said following pressure from the "pro-Hawa Bhaban" leaders, BNP standing committee created the post of senior vice-president.
In the meeting of central executive committee with Khaleda Zia in the chair in September 2005, these leaders had raised the demand for bringing Tarique to leadership level.
Even in 2002, these leaders played a key role in ousting former president AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury from the party and forced him to resign presidency.
Source: http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=117251
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