It would be 'suicidal' if reforms are done keeping her away, they told pro-reform party leader Ashraf Hossain during a view-exchange meeting at his Khalishpur residence in Khulna city Tuesday night.

The meeting continued till late night and most of the leaders of BNP committees in three upazilas under Khulna 3 constituency attended it, meeting sources said yesterday.

They were however unanimous on the need for reform, terming it a demand of time.

Yesterday, Ashraf appeared before the court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate in a case filed against him by divisional T&T office in connection with Tk six lakh arrear bill. The court fixed August 7 for hearing.

The local BNP leaders, who are also party councilors, urged Ashraf not to create division in the party.

They urged him to prepare reform proposals through party council in presence of party chairperson once the ban on indoor politics is lifted.

Ashraf, a close aide of BNP secretary general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, arranged the view-exchange meeting with leaders of Khalishpur, Daulatpur and Khanjahan Ali upazill committees to know their opinion about the initiative to bring reforms in the party.

This correspondent talked to Daulatpur upazilla BNP president Sheikh Mosharaf Hossain, Khanjahan Ali upazilla committee president Mir Kaised Ali and Khalishpur upazialla president SM Abdur Rahman who attended the meeting.

They said Ashraf Hossain could not convince them about the reform proposals that aimed at reorgagising the party minus Khaleda Zia.

General secretaries, joint secretaries and other office bearers of the three upazila committees in Khulna 3 constituency, from where Ashraf Hossain was elected a lawmaker twice, also attended the meeting.

They also told the meeting that they want to remove corrupt, opportunist, non-political elements and musclemen from the party to make it stronger and more democratic, but of course keeping Khaleda, meeting sources said.

"We advised him not to divide the party in the name of reform," a senior leader told this correspondent.

Replying local party leaders, Ashraf Hossain said Khaleda Zia is not the target of reform proposal, announced by the party secretary general.

"We prepared proposals to make the party more democratic and ensure transparency", a leader quoted Ashraf as telling the meeting.

"The aim is not to retain or drop somebody", he said.

Later, Ashraf told The Daily Star, "Party leaders of my constituency came to me to know about the present situation. I talked politics".