Brig Gen (retd) Hannan Shah distributed relief materials in Sirajganj on behalf of Khaleda while Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman represented Mannan Bhuiyan in the relief work in Brahmanbaria.

The BNP chairperson, meanwhile, alleged yesterday that the government did not allow her to stand beside the flood victims--a duty she has always performed before.

"I wanted to stand beside the flood affected people but the government did not allow me to do so," she said during a teleconference with the BNP leaders and workers of Sirajganj.

Urging them to stay united, the BNP chairperson said, "I have sent Hannan Shah to the people as I could not go myself."

Local BNP leaders gathered at the residence of district unit General Secretary Humayun Islam in the town to take part in the teleconference.

Khaleda was scheduled to distribute relief in different flood affected areas in Sirajganj and Tangail but the home ministry did not give her the permission on "security grounds".

Hannan Shah, adviser to the BNP chairperson, distributed relief materials at different places in the two districts. Former lawmaker Kamruddin Yahiya Khan Majlish, Sirajganj district BNP Vice-President Abdus Salam Khan and General Secretary Humayun Islam Khan accompanied him.

Later, Hannan Shan addressed the flood victims and said Khaleda Zia wanted to stand by them but did not get the government permission.

"A conspiracy has been on to break up the party but we will resist success of any such conspiracy," he said. Hannan later made a phone call to Khaleda and she spoke to the people over phone.

BNP Standing Committee member Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, a close aide of the BNP secretary general, distributed relief materials among the flood victims at different places in Brahmanbaria.

Maj Gen (retd) ZA Khan, an adviser to the BNP chairperson and close aide of Bhuiyan, yesterday told reporters that they will continue their relief operation.

Asked about Hannan Shah's declaration that he would distribute relief on behalf of the chairperson, ZA Khan said, "We will also distribute relief and it may be on behalf of the chairperson or the secretary general." He was talking to reporters after meeting with Bhuiyan at his Gulshan residence.

He also brushed aside Hannan Shah's allegation on Thursday that the BNP chairperson made a phone call to Mannan Bhuiyan but the latter did not receive the call. "She [Khaleda] did not make any call to the secretary general," he said.