BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's younger brother Maj (retd) Saeed Iskandar yesterday disclosed that he was made a vice-president of the party by the chief, amid widespread speculation that her stay abroad might be prolonged if she goes to Saudi Arabia for Umrah. Nazrul Islam Khan, joint secretary general of BNP, told The Daily Star yesterday, "Iskandar was made a vice-president on January 10 but we could not disclose the matter formally as the government has a ban imposed on politics." With Saeed Iskandar's induction, the number of vice-presidents in BNP now stands at 15, although the party constitution limits the number within 12. Other vice-presidents are -- Emran Ali Sarkar, Tariqul Islam, Justice TH Khan, LK Siddique, Nazmul Huda, Begum Sarwari Rahman, Rabeya Chowdhury, Chowhdury Kamal Ibne Yusuf, Shawkat Ali, MK Anwar, Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, Shahjahan Siraj, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, and Mohammad Nurul Huda.
A party source said Khaleda Zia decided to appoint her brother as a vice-president within the last few days during her meetings with party leaders at her cantonment residence as she is 'facing tremendous pressure' for leaving the country.
The schedule for her departure however has not been finalised yet as she has not gotten a visa for entering the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. According to the source, Saeed Iskandar will take up the charge of acting chairperson of the party if Khaleda is to leave for Saudi Arabia and if she is to stay there for a prolonged period. Iskandar however told reporters that he is not ready to take up the responsibility during the party chairperson's visit to Saudi Arabia. BNP leaders said Khaleda will leave for Saudi Arabia after the ban on indoor politics is lifted, in spite of the 'tremendous pressure' on her for going abroad.