The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the country’s largest party, is set to restructure its leadership by creating three separate posts for secretary generals overseeing organizational, international, and administrative affairs, sources confirmed.
The party is also considering the addition of a co-chairman role within its constitution, a move that could be formalized at its upcoming National Council session. These developments come as part of a broader plan to reshape the BNP's central executive committee.
According to several reliable sources, this can only happen through the party's national conference/national council. The process has started in these matters. Party high command Tarique Rahman has discussed the matter with members of the highest policy-making forum.
They said that if BNP elected in the next national parliament election by the people's vote, discussions and activities are also underway on the issue of the post-election government formation process. Party’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is emphasizing the issue of forming a post-election consensus national government.
In particular, discussions are underway on how to evaluate the leaders of the parties that are part of the simultaneous movement against the fascist Sheikh Hasina government. Activities are also underway on these issues.
Apart from this, who will get nominations and who will get ministries or who will be in what position within the party will depend on the respective performance of the concerned leaders.
The records of all the party leaders have already been submitted to the high command. Among them, the names of several high-ranking leaders have been added to the list of extortion allegations. The acting chairman will take a strong stance on them.
Moreover, the information of those who were in good relation with the previous Hasina government and were dishonest with their own party is also being reviewed. Such leaders will not get nominations under any circumstances this time. Far from making ministers and state ministers of the fallen Awami League government like 'Khalid-Palak or Arafat' as ministers, BNP will not even nominate them for the post of MP. The acting chairman's position in this regard is very strict. As a result, there is a high possibility of new faces in BNP's nomination for the next parliamentary elections.
Evaluation by appointing dedicated leaders to big posts: According to party office sources, Tarique Rahman has started evaluating loyal leaders by appointing them to big posts in the party in addition to restructuring the committees of various units of BNP including metropolitan, district and upazila.
The process of appointment of various posts of the executive committee including central vice chairman, advisor to the chairperson, including under the party constitution and the power of the chairperson, is continuing. Most recently, Professor Nargis Begum, wife of the recently departed convener of Jessore district BNP and former member of the national standing committee, late Tariqul Islam, has been appointed as the party's vice chairman.
Professor Nargis Begum became the convener of the Jessore District BNP Convening Committee formed on May 20, 2018. Since taking charge, she has led the party's movement struggle in difficult times. Leaders and activists are excited that this veteran politician has been elected vice chairman.
They said that Professor Nargis Begum has been elected vice chairman of the party as a reward for holding the party in difficult times. At the same time, Haji Aminur Rashid Yasin, the secretary of relief and rehabilitation of the party's national executive committee, has been appointed as a member of the chairperson's advisory council. Very soon, several more such dedicated leaders may be appointed to big positions and evaluated.
Priority of young leaders: According to relevant sources, BNP is giving priority to young leaders at all levels of committee formation from the center to the grassroots. From the national standing committee and central executive committee to divisions, districts, metropolises, upazilas, municipalities, unions and even wards, relatively young leaders are getting priority in the organizational field.
More surprises are being seen in the formation of district committees this time. Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal leaders are being appointed to these committees more. Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman himself is distributing new responsibilities to relatively young leaders in the party's central committee. The party's sources have said that this will be reflected more in the next national council.
Moreover, Tarique Rahman's daughter Barrister Jaima Rahman may also be directly involved in BNP politics. She may get responsibility in an important organizational position. She has already participated in the 'National Breakfast Prayer' in the United States as the representative of the party's acting chairman.
Due to leading from abroad (London) for the past one and a half decades, most of the leaders from the center to the grassroots are now personally known to Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. The status of any leader is now at his fingertips. As a result, he is able to easily decide who needs to be given what responsibility.
Moreover, he also has a lot of trust in young leaders. Keeping in mind the reality and the context of world politics, he is bringing relatively young people to the leadership. In this regard, committees at different levels of the party are being formed taking into account talent, hard work and sacrifice. He is trying to make the party's activities more dynamic by trusting in the young leadership.
As part of this, Tarique has made Aminul Haque, the party's central sports affairs secretary, the convener of Dhaka Metropolitan North BNP. Similarly, Rafiqul Alam Majnu has been made the convener of Metropolitan South. They are being given some kind of instruction almost every day to keep the organization strong and vibrant through meetings, workshops, or gatherings.
Regarding this, BNP National Standing Committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku told Bangladesh Pratidin, “It is the duty of the old to make way for the new ones. BNP is giving committees in a combination of the new and the old. The experience of the old and the work of the new must move the party and the country forward. Our acting chairman Tarique Rahman has therefore given instructions in favor of advancing the work of the new ones in light of the experience of the old ones.”
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi told Bangladesh Pratidin, “The path to leadership for the young must be open. Their opportunities must be increased. Those among the young who are skilled, qualified, and have come through movement and struggle have already established their own leadership. For this reason, the opportunities for young leaders should be increased further.”
BNP Central Joint Secretary General Advocate Abdus Salam Azad told Bangladesh Pratidin, “BNP has become a united and strong party today due to the tireless efforts of our acting chairman Tarique Rahman. He is consolidating the party and is properly evaluating the party's dedicated and capable leaders. He is determined to create a strong and strong leadership of BNP in the future by combining the new and the old.”
(Translated by Tanvir Raihan)
