The grassroots level leaders and workers meanwhile continue to be in the dark about what would become of the party and them.

Many of the former ministers and lawmakers are trying to mobilise support in favour of reforms as they feel the imperative now is to ensure intra-party transparency, accountability and democracy through bringing about radical changes, said party sources.

"In the post-emergency Bangladesh, a political party cannot do without reforms and decisions on the prospective changes should follow discussions at different tiers including the grassroots level leaders," Sardar Shakhawat Hossain Bakul, a former lawmaker, told The Daily Star last night.

A party insider said some senior leaders including Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan are trying to gauge the future of Zia family in BNP politics. Some others including Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka who too are believed to be loyal to Bhuiyan have called for measures aimed at curbing absolute power of the party chairperson.

Meanwhile, the recent extortion case filed against Khaleda Zia's younger son Arafat Rahman Koko appears to be adding to the tension and fear among many BNP leaders. The case led up to Khaleda cancelling the Singapore trip that she had planned for treatment.

The leaders who met her several times in the last couple of weeks did not even try to contact the former premier after she cancelled the visit Wednesday night.

"I could not contact her in the last two days but I will try," Selima Rahman, a former state minister known to be very close to Khaleda, told The Daily Star yesterday.

Sources said many former ministers, lawmakers, leaders of central committee and Dhaka city unit BNP think that Khaleda should clarify what she is thinking about Tarique's future in the party politics.

Leaders of the mid-level and grassroots however still believe that it would be hard for them to survive without her leadership.

"The mass of party activists won't accept any change or reform sidelining Khaleda. Everyone will be happy though if she declares that both her sons will remain out of politics," said a BNP leader speaking about the reform issue.

Another leader said,"Tarique tried to do politics but his attitude towards the seniors was objectionable and unacceptable." He also questioned the contribution of the other family members of Khaleda including her brother Saeed Iskandar for the BNP.

Leaders from all levels are annoyed with Tarique and his aides who, they allege, used the party and state power to cater to their personal interests. His arrogance was so blatant that he went on to insult on numerous occasions senior leaders who were colleagues of his father late President Ziaur Rahman, said party sources.

He failed to stamp a positive imprint on public mind, rather his involvement in corruption is now clear to all, they added.