DHAKA: Opposition BNP is set to withdraw the expulsion order on its former secretary-general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, now struggling for life in a city hospital, for his exoneration from political nemesis in the last resort.
He was expelled from the former ruling party on September 3, 2007, just before BNP chief Khaleda Zia was arrested amid a massive anti-graft drive under state of emergency.
Party sources said the decision of reinstating Bhuiyan was taken at the party standing committee meeting on Thursday night at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office.
They added the BNP chairperson could visit him at Square Hospital after the restoration of Bhuiyan’s party membership. His life support would be taken off in presence of his wife and son after Khaleda’s visit.
Eleven standing-committee members attended the meeting with the party chief, Begum Khaleda Zia, in the chair.
All the committee members bar one requested her to consider restoring Bhuiyan`s membership. They also commemorated his 11-year contribution for the party. However, nobody made any comment on his reformist role during the emergency, party sources said.
Begum Zia also agreed with the committee, but the meeting decided that his expulsion order would be lifted after getting a plea from his family member or a party member on behalf of Mannan.
Some of the leaders in the party hierarchy were of the opinion that the dissident got enough of punishment through his fall from the party’s pivotal post.
After the meeting, standing-committee member Gayeswar Chandra Roy said, ”The committee is yet to take final decision as none applied for him in this regard. Chairperson would warmly receive any appeal.”
The senior politician is on life-support system due to his inability to breathe normally. The ailing BNP leader has been undergoing treatment at the Critical Care Unit (CCU) of the Square Hospital since he returned from Singapore on Wednesday evening.
Earlier, the former local government minister flew to Singapore on May 31 for treatment. He had undergone treatment at the Critical Care Unit (CCU) in Singapore National University Hospital. He was given chemotherapy eight times there.
A number of leaders, including incumbent BNP Secretary-General Khandaker Delwar Hossain, Deputy Leader of the House in Parliament Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Awami League leader Tofail Ahmed and Language Movement veteran Abdul Matin visited Bhuiyan at the hospital Thursday.
BDST: 01:10 HRS, July 9, 2010.
