Leaders preparing reform proposals under the direction of party Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan are trying to strengthen themselves while Khaleda loyalists are trying to create opinions in favour of the chairperson.

A group of party leaders are meanwhile trying to set up a meeting between Khaleda and Mannan Bhuiyan following Khaleda's desire to talk with her secretary general to save the party from a possible split.

BNP Joint Secretary General Ashraf Hossain, a close aide of Bhuiyan, yesterday once again said, "We want reforms and the people will get our reform proposals within one or two days."

He, however, rejected rumours of any conflict between the party chairperson and the pro-reform leaders. Everything will become clear to party leaders and workers when the ban on indoor politics is lifted, he said.

Maj Gen (retd) ZA Khan, an adviser to the BNP chairperson, said, "Reform proposals will be sent to all and decision will be taken through discussions if she [Khaleda] does not accept the proposal."

He said they are not against any person but want to bring changes to the party chairperson's power since it would be harmful for the party if the unilateral power of the chairperson remains.

Meanwhile, party chairperson's remark after visiting ailing party leader Nazrul Islam Khan on Wednesday that they will bring reforms through discussion with all, not a few leaders, made many BNP leaders angry.

"She could tell it from annoyance but reforms will be implemented through discussion with all," ZA Khan told reporters.

Asked about Khaleda's phrase "a few leaders", he said, "For some, ten people are a few people while for others 100 people are a few people."

Many BNP leaders met Bhuiyan at his Gulshan residence yesterday and discussed the much-anticipated reform proposals. Bhuiyan, however, did not make any comment to reporters.

In the last two weeks, he met senior leaders including party Standing Committee member M Saifur Rahman, Dr RA Gani and Shamsul Islam.

According to party leaders, the seniors want to bring reforms keeping Khaleda in place while others believe that reforms cannot be implemented if Khaleda remains in the top post of the party.