Pro-reform leaders of the BNP will take a hard line if Chairperson Khaleda Zia refuses to accept the proposals they claim are aimed to ensure intra-party democracy. They have identified the absolute power of the chairperson as the main obstacle to practising democracy within the party and so emphasised the importance of a collective leadership in their proposals that are likely to be made public within a couple of days. Meanwhile, Khaleda Zia and the leaders loyal to her too seem resolved not to bring any changes bypassing the council. Also a former prime minister, she has already said reforms would be carried out in discussion with leaders down to the grassroots level once the ban on indoor politics is lifted.
Those for reforms say they are determined to purge the organisation of corrupt leaders and criminals. "We want to see a meaningful change....we want to free the party of corrupt individuals and terrorists," Ashraf Hossain, joint secretary general of BNP, told The Daily Star last night.