Dhaka June 6 (bdnews24.com) — Maverick former minister Nazmul Huda said on Wednesday that he was resigning from the BNP once again to protest Chairperson Khaleda Zia's failure to engage in talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Huda, a Barrister by training, made the announcement at a press briefing at his chamber in the capital's Topkhana Road.
The senior politician indicating Khaleda said in his letter of resignation, "I had thought that you would not force me to resign from the BNP. But, I have been proved wrong. …And I am resigning from the BNP taking responsibility of this failure."
After reading out his resignation letter to journalists, Huda said, "I will deliver the letter to Khaleda myself."
The former Communications Minister from 2001-06 had earlier set a deadline for the party chief to initiate talks over formation of non-party caretaker government.
On May 23, Huda at a press conference had said that in the wake of the current 'catastrophic' condition of the nation, there was only 'one' way to peace, prosperity and development – consensus between the chiefs of the BNP and Awami League.
Huda then had threatened to resign from the party if Khaleda did not invite Hasina by June 5 for a dialogue over the prevailing 'confrontational' situation in the country.
He was member of the first Standing Committee after BNP came into being. He was left out of the committee when Khaleda had the committee reconstituted. However, Huda was made vice-president in the last council of the BNP in 2009.
In the two-page resignation letter Huda also focused on his 'allegiance' to the party and the role he had played at the time of floating BNP in 1978.
He said, "I am the one of the nine who had first founded the party. Most of them are still alive. Dr. (AQM) Badrudduza Chowdhury, Habibullah Khan, Jamaluddin Ahmed, Moudud Ahmad, Barrister Abul Hasnat – all are alive. Only my favorite sir, Ziaur Rahman is no more, and (so are) Justice Abdus Sattar and Abdul Momen Khan. These information will not be found on the party's website."
He said he was a 'successful' Communications Minister of the BNP-led alliance government and took time to praise Khaleda for her leadership. He also discussed issues like taking part in the anti-autocracy movement along with Khaleda since 1986 in his resignation letter.
Regarding his rivalry with another Standing Committee member Moudud Ahmed, Huda said, "I have been expelled for criticising Moudud. I do not have the willingness or eagerness to continue with the party politics under the leadership of Jatiya Party politician. Madam, you have to be cautious too.
"An MP, a Minister, Prime Minister under the President and Deputy President – he (Moudud) has held all offices. The only position left for him to the Prime Minister in a Parliament."
He warned Khaleda of Moudud, highlighting the latter's activities over the past.
"You know well about his strategy of destroying you and his long political career. He will adopt the ploy through his followers to keep (Senior Vice-President) Tarique Rahman (away from politics). You yourself are a witness and also a victim to the strategy that made you part with your favorite military, madam. I am only the victim of that technique as I had criticised that."
"Madam, you have given me the ultimate pain for being obedient."
Huda was chosen as Information Minister after BNP assumed power in 1991. But he had lost the portfolio for outlining the formation of a non-party and neutral government at that time.
Huda, who faced corruption charges during the 2007-08 military-backed government's tenure, had served as State Minister for Information in the 1991-96 BNP government and was fired for his remarks in 1995.
Huda, the then Vice-Chairman of BNP, was thrown out of the party in 2010 for going against the position after Khaleda was evicted from her long-time home in the Dhaka cantonment.
He was reinstated in the party after he had regretted his comment.
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