BNP bigwigs sit today to review situation
Staff Correspondent
More than a week into the first round of arrests of former ministers and lawmakers by the joint forces, the national standing committee (NSC) of BNP, the highest policy making body of the party, will meet today to discuss the latest political situation. According to a party news release issued yesterday the meeting will be held at 7:00pm with its Chairperson Khaleda Zia in the chair in her Hawa Bhaban office at Banani in the capital. BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and other standing committee members were asked to attend the meeting. The NSC will discuss some important issues including arrests of party leaders, the latest reconstitution of the Election Commission, and the recent transfers and dismissals in police and civil administrations, party sources said. BNP high ups are not happy about the current drive of the joint forces against corruption which resulted in arrests of many party leaders. The joint forces also raided the houses of some other party leaders prompting them to go into hiding to evade arrests, according to the sources. In the changed situation BNP leaders are worried about their party members as a large number of party leaders and activists across the country have already been arrested on charges of corruption and sponsoring terrorism. Already detained BNP leaders include Nazmul Huda, Salauddin Quader Chowdury, and Mosaddak Ali Falu. The Sources said BNP will provide legal aid to its detained leaders and the party high command is keeping close contact with their families so that the NSC can discuss the matter in the meeting. "The standing committee might have a long agenda like the arrests of political leaders, appointment of the chief election commissioner and two other commissioners as well as the recent government decisions," a BNP leader told The Daily Star requesting anonymity. According to the party sources the NSC will also discuss the government's decision to dismiss a large number of police officials on charges of partisanship, and the recent changes made in the police and civil administrations. A large number of officials known as BNP supporters were already made officers on special duty (OSD) and transferred, much to the chagrin of BNP leaders. Earlier after the arrests of political leaders, BNP in a statement demanded disclosure of the charges against them, which the government has yet to concede. The party also demanded release of those detained leaders, who have no specific charge against them.
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