BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan yesterday continued his discussions with party leaders including some district level leaders as a part of his preparations for holding the council.

The reformist leaders however fear that a provision in the party constitution giving the chairperson discretionary power of nominating ten percent extra councillors from different units of the party, might create problems for the reformists in getting their reform proposal approved by the council.

"We have no difference over the reforms and now we want to hold a successful council," Maj Gen (retd) Mahmudul Hasan, president of Tangail District BNP told reporters after his meeting with the party secretary general in the latter's Gulshan residence.

Leaders from Habiganj, Shariatpur and Gopalganj districts also met Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and discussed the reform proposal and the upcoming party council. Bhuiyan is scheduled to continue his discussions with grassroots level leaders.

"A council is necessary to discuss the reforms," Dewan Minhaj Gazi, leader of Habiganj BNP told the reporters.

Meanwhile, leaders who are close to the BNP chairperson are trying to convince party councillors especially district level leaders not to support any move for holding the council amid the state of emergency.

According to the BNP constitution, presidents, general secretaries, and organising secretaries of all 480 upazila and 147 municipality committees of the party; presidents, vice-presidents, general secretaries, assistant general secretaries, and organising secretaries of 72 organisational district committees; all members of the central executive committee, standing committee, and the party chairperson's advisory council will be treated as councillors, and they may bring any change to the party constitution.

Besides, the chairperson may nominate 10 percent extra people as councillors from different units of the party. Around 3,000 councillors will decide on the reform proposals, at least 400 of whom are currently in jails across the country on different charges.

The reformist leaders fear that the chairperson's special discretionary power to nominate extra councillors might create difficulties for them in getting their reform proposal adopted but they are hopeful about overcoming the problem if push comes to shove.