Addressing a crowded press conference at his Banani residence, Tofail said currently the political parties are at a crossroads and there is no alternative but to carry out reforms.

Before starting, he claimed that the proposals he would place were absolutely his own. Asking journalists not to question him, he said, "Please help us. We are going through a very critical time."

Another presidium member, Suranjit Sengupta, too will place his proposals before the media shortly. And finally, Amir Hossain Amu, who is spearheading the campaign for reforms apparently aiming to dethrone AL President Sheikh Hasina, will place his on return from Singapore, said sources in the AL.

Like his presidium colleague, Tofail's proposals include the one that says no one would be allowed to hold the posts of president and general secretary for more than two terms in a row.

He however stressed that his proposals do not intend to have the party minus any particular individual. He added that his will be placed before the central working committee meeting as per the AL constitution.

At the news briefing, the AL leader came down heavily on different moves by the party chief. Without mentioning Hasina's name, he said that the AL has been rendered controversial through sales of nominations to those who had never been involved with it.

He also said leaders and workers of the party have been made stand against the military-backed caretaker government through provocative speeches.

"If one thing is said today and the other tomorrow, where does a political party's acceptability stand?" Tofail questioned in an oblique reference to Hasina.

A former minister, Tofail said Bangabandhu would always keep the party and the government separate and take decision in consultation with the senior leaders.

He said now powers rest with one person surrounded by sycophants. He severely criticised the AL's now scrapped deal with the Khelafat Majlish.

He pointed a finger at the AL chief also for not maintaining transparency in handling the party funds.

Citing his party's role in different historical movements including the Liberation War, he said he would never do anything to harm the organisation that Bangabandhu held so close to his heart. "If I'm responsible for any damage to the party, I will quit as I can never betray the ideals of Bangabandhu," he observed.

He urged the leaders and workers not to do anything that might harm the organisation. He said none has the power to divide the AL. "Those who will try to split Awami League will in fact betray the blood of Bangabandhu and be binned by the history," said the veteran AL leader adding that he would not stand anyone questioning his integrity.

Reiterating that he supports the caretaker administration, he said the government is implementing what they have long been demanding for the sake of a free and fair election. All should come forward to help it as everything depends on its success.

Even the advisers should not do or say anything that would make the government controversial, said once a firebrand student leader.

He called on the leaders, workers as well as the countrymen to be on the alert for conspiracies and wait patiently for a free and fair election as promised by the chief adviser.

PROPOSALS
Tofail said his reform proposals aim to make sure that democracy is practised at all levels of the party, and establish collective leadership to promote transparency and accountability in decision-making.

A proposal is that the party funds should be deposited in a bank under supervision of the party treasurer, who will report quarterly at party meetings.

They also suggest a set of amendments to the AL constitution not to allow anyone to hold the posts of president or general secretary twice in a row. The same rule shall apply to those at district and upazila levels.

Anyone down to the secretary level cannot simultaneously hold posts in the party and government.

All committees will be elected through secret ballots. Anyone accused of having a role against the Liberation War or war crime will be considered ineligible for membership of the party. Likewise, criminals or black money owners will not be eligible to contest elections on the AL ticket.

A member convicted of criminal offence by the highest court will be disqualified from holding any post in the party and getting nomination for any election.

In the proposals, he also calls for national recognition of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the father of the nation, execution of those condemned to death for the gruesome killings on August 15, 1975, and punishment to those responsible for killing four national leaders on November 3, 1975.

He also suggests abolition of communal politics and establishment of a secular, democratic Bangladesh.

Some other proposals that he has come up with relate to economic, administrative and judicial overhaul, electoral reforms proposed by the Election Commission, and functioning of the Anti-Corruption Commission.

Besides, Tofail proposed amendments to the national constitution to define the balance of power between the president and the prime minister.