Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is mulling to hold its national council to vibrant the party considering the current political situation and targeting the next parliamentary election.
Party sources said the BNP couldn’t hold its national council during the Awami League regime for many reasons including cases, oppression and torture.
BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury told Bangladesh Pratidin that the BNP couldn’t operate its normal activities due to limitless torture by the then government. Even after taking the initiative, it was not possible to hold a national council. But the political atmosphere has returned to the country. Therefore, the national council of the party will also be held. The matter is being discussed in the standing committee meetings of the party. The process of the council will begin after the instruction of the party’s acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. The party will be stronger through the council, he added.
According to the party sources, the national council issue has been discussed at every meeting of the standing committee after August 5. Most of the leaders have supported in favour of holding the council. Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has been given the charge to announce the date of the council.
Another standing committee member said Tarique Rahman is likely to return to the country in January next year after completing legal procedures. The national council might be held after his return.
BNP leaders and activists said the country’s political scenery has changed after the fall of the fascist Awami League government. BNP then started the politics of relief. It has already distributed relief materials among the flood victims and taken punitive action against wrongdoers in order to strengthen the party and bring discipline. They said there is no alternative to holding the national council to vibrant the party ahead of the next election. For this reason, expired committees of the BNP and its affiliated organisations are being dissolved.
Party high-ups said there will be a new surprise in the next council. Some articles and clauses of the party constitution will be changed. The fortune of the sacrificed and dedicated leaders, who were on the streets during the past 16 years, will be fixed at the council after 8 years. Eligible, sacrificed and tested leaders of the party will be given important posts.
BNP leaders and activists said their party is at the risk of Representation of the People Order (RPO) registration. According to the RPO, a political party, registered at the election commission, is bound to hold its national council every three years.
As part of the council preparation, the decision has already been taken to dissolve all organizational district committees and bring new leadership. In the first phase, those leaders were inactive in the party’s anti-government movement and those who were unskilled leadership, their committees would be dissolved. Three district committees have already been dissolved and more will be dissolved soon. Three-month convener committees will be formed after dissolving all expired committees. Organizational convener committees will form unit committees and district committees within three months.
The last council of the party was held on March 19, 2016, at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh. There are 130 vacant posts in different positions of the central committee in the 6th national council. Responsible persons said the main goal of the high command of the party is to strengthen the central committee by fulfilling vacant posts through the national council.
Contacted, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said it is routine work to announce a new committee by dissolving the old one. The party gets a new leadership if the national council is held. Tested and dedicated leaders get vital posts on the committee. Acting chairman Tarique Rahman always makes the right decision. Forming the new committees will be started in full swing after the announcement of holding national council by Tarique Rahman.
bd-pratidin/GR
