Rumours are spreading within the main opposition that Mosaddek Ali Falu, once very powerful in the party, has sought exemption from the chairperson's advisory council.

He even submitted a letter to the chairperson seeking release from the party committee, said party insiders, adding that the matter is still pending as Khaleda Zia did not accept his resignation letter while Falu has yet to withdraw it.

Falu, former personal aide to the chairperson, however denied it saying that he did not send any letter to the chairperson.

“It's not true, I did not send any letter,” Falu, also a former lawmaker of the party, told The Daily Star over the phone on Thursday when asked whether he had resigned from the advisory council.

A number of party leaders, however, claimed that Falu had tendered his resignation from the advisory council just after formation of the BNP central committee on January 1 this year, as he was expecting more important post in the party's central body.

They also said that a dispute with an influential leader of the party also prompted Falu to take the decision of quitting the party committee.

BNP on January 1 had declared its 386-member central body and 32-member chairperson's advisory council keeping Falu as an adviser.

Party insiders said a few days after the announcement of the committee Falu met the chairperson and submitted the letter seeking release from the advisory council.

Khaleda Zia later called Falu at her office to discuss the issue and at a certain stage of their discussion, she offered Falu a vital post of party's Dhaka city unit but failed to convince him, they said.

Asked whether Khaleda offered him any important post of city unit, Falu declined to make any comment on the matter.

Khaleda also asked Falu to continue the party activities as a special assistant to her but he did not accept the proposal, sources said.

Since then Falu refrained from taking part in any party activities. He was not seen in any programme held at chairperson's Gulshan office or party's central office in Nayapaltan or at any street demonstration, the insiders said.

The issue came up for discussion following the resignation of Gayeshwar Chandra Roy from the standing committee on August 2, which too was not accepted by the chairperson.

This correspondent contacted Falu over the phone on August 11 for his version of the issue.

Falu asked the correspondent to meet him at his office yesterday. He also suggested making a phone call before going to his office.

Following his suggestion, this correspondent made a phone call yesterday when Falu once again asked about the issue.

After hearing the subject of discussion, he said, “I am away from my office, so tell me whatever you want to know from me over the phone.”

On submission of the letter, he just said that he did not send any letter to the chairperson.