Former prime minister Khaleda Zia, who leads the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has finally done it. She fired her party's two top officials, hours before she was arrested and sent to a makeshift prison on Monday. She expelled BNP secretary-general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan and joint secretary-general Ashraf Hossain for what she called their “anti-party activities”.

She named Khandker Delwar Hossain as the acting secretary-general and asked her adviser former Brigadier Hannan Shah to look after the party affairs.

Mr Bhuiyan, who was Ms Zia's close associate and an influential cabinet member during her rule (2001-06), has been active in bringing about reforms in the party. If his reform proposals are accepted, Ms Zia will cease to be the party chief.

Many here say that he has been maintaining a liaison with the military-backed caretaker government to oust Ms Zia from the party leadership.

His critics say though the Transparency International had identified Mr Bhuiyan's ministry as the most corrupt, there is no case against him. On the contrary, known corrupt party leaders have joined him to avoid arrest.
Mr Bhuiyan rejected Ms Zia's action and said she was trying to split the party.

“I am the secretary-general of the party,” he claimed. “We don't accept her arbitrary action.”

Mr Hossain, the new acting secretary-general said he would try his best to keep the party intact.

He described Ms Zia’s arrest as political. “The false case against her should be withdrawn,” he demanded.
Mr Bhuiyan says he would not form any other party, but analysts believe a split is imminent.