- Col Oli is the most discussed in the Acting Secretary General
- Mirza Abbas and Salahuddin are also on the list
- Md Shahjahan, Abdul Awal Mintoo and many others discussed in the standing committee
# The restructuring of the party is underway, any decision can come at any time
- Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, BNP standing committee member
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) started reconstructing in the leadership of the party. Major changes are also being brought in the party's secretary general and standing committee members.
Trusted leaders of the party said that many of the senior leaders were ill and lying in bed during the movement. The movement faded as a large part of the top went into hiding as well. Besides, about 130 posts of the Central Committee have been vacant for a long time. Five of the 19 posts in the Standing Committee, the highest policy-making forum, are still vacant. Especially after October 28, the weakness of leadership has come out in the open.
In such a situation, it has been decided to rebuild the party with tested sacrifices and trusted leaders who involved in make Chatra Dal and Jubo Dal politics. Due to the situation not being favorable, the announcement can come from London at any time, even if the council is not there. However, a path of special honor will be created for the sick leaders in the form of a standing committee. So that there is no anger in the party. The party's constitution will also create opportunities for this post.
The Daily Post talked to at least a dozen top leaders to know who is joining the secretary general and the standing committee. They said that recently there was a discussion on who will be the alternative secretary general of the party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir by adding some more important leaders to the standing committee and who can replace the vacant posts and sick leaders in the standing committee. Tarique Rahman also consulted online with other important leaders of the party. Giving importance to the movement, the committee of Chatra Dal has been announced recently. BNP's three major posts have also been reshuffled. Two reliable leaders who were present at the meeting said that there was a discussion on bringing former BNP standing committee member Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed as the acting secretary general. The name of this leader has come in the scale of both diplomatic and politics.
Since the inception of BNP, Oli has never breached trust with Ziaur Rahman or Khaleda Zia. He was a member of the standing committee of BNP for 22 years from 1984 to 2006. He also violated the first section 44 of the anti-Ershad movement. There is no alternative to Colonel Oli after Mirza Fakhrul in BNP according to the balance between a freedom fighter and diplomatic political in all aspects – such proposals and suggestions have come from a large section of the party.
Two others are in talks with Colonel Oli. One of them is BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas. However, despite the importance of this leader in political experience, there is a two-way discussion about maintaining diplomatic balance. The other is Salahuddin Ahmed, a convicted leader living in India. There is a question whether he will be able to play a role with leaders and activists as he has been away from the political field for almost 10 years.
Meanwhile, there is a strong discussion in the standing committee about giving priority to the Trinamool. BNP chairperson's adviser and former Sylhet City Corporation mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury, another chairperson's adviser and former opposition chief whip Zainul Abedin Faruk, BNP national executive committee joint secretary general and former mayor of Barishal City Corporation Mujibur Rahman Sarwar, chairperson's adviser Mizanur Rahman Minu, BNP vice-chairman and former president of Supreme Court Bar Association Zainul Abedin, BNP chairperson's adviser Ariful Haque Chowdhury, BNP vice-chairman and former president of Supreme Court Bar Association Zainul Abedin, BNP Vice-Chairman AZM Zahid Hossain and Special Secretary Asaduzzaman Ripon. Besides, the names of BNP Vice Chairman Abdul Awal Mintoo and Mohammad Shahjahan are also being discussed.
Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain has been undergoing treatment for brain tumor for a long time. He is still in bed from abroad. According to Musharraf's family sources, doctors said that his return to normal life is uncertain to return to the street programs. Besides, another standing committee member Rafiqul Islam Mia cannot move without the cooperation of others. This leader has no role in the party now. Jamir Uddin Sarkar, who is over 90, is not always present in the meeting. He is now very inactive due to old age. Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku also fled the country during the movement.
Due to the weakness of the leadership, BNP is repeatedly stumbling in the movement. There have been allegations from a large section of the party that most of those who have been given the responsibility of the acting chairman of the party have failed. Many seniors did not implement Tarique Rahman's instructions. The popularity that BNP had, the support of the common people, the sacrifice of the grassroots could not be utilized. In the 12th, the tide of BNP's victory was raised, people swam the river and joined the public meeting during the winter. Diplomatic issues were in BNP's house, but the unknown mystery did not yield any result.
It was known that the last council of BNP was held in March 2016. In August that year, the party announced a 17-member standing committee. There are 19 posts in the Standing Committee. Since then, two positions are still vacant. Six posts fell vacant after the deaths of MK Anwar, Tariqul Islam, ASM Hannan Shah and Moudud Ahmed. Former army chief Mahbubur Rahman resigned and seven posts stood vacant. Selima Rahman and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku were last included in the standing committee on June 22, 2019. The current standing committee members are BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, acting chairman Tarique Rahman, secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Jamiruddin Sircar, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Rafiqul Islam Mia, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, Selima Rahman and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku.
BNP standing committee member Barrister Jamiruddin told The Daily Post, "We are a big political party, we have to hold the council. We will do it from time to time. However, in the current political situation of the country, it is difficult to specify the date of the council. It is difficult to say who will come and who will not come, if there is a council, the councillors will decide."
Another standing committee member of the party, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy said that the restructuring of the party is underway. Any decision can come at any time.
When asked, BNP Vice Chairman Md Shahjahan said that if the council is held, the leaders will definitely have confidence there. In the current situation, it is difficult to say whether the council will be held, there is some discussion about it. But even if it is not a council, our acting chairman has been given the power to take any decision.
Another vice-chairman of the party, Nitai Roy Chowdhury, told The Daily Post, "There are many vacant posts in our party. Many have been sick in bed for a long time. Many people cannot come to the regular program. It must be filled two days before or two days later. The sooner we can fill the vacant posts, the faster our organizational work will accelerate."
BNP Vice Chairman Major (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed said that our party secretary general has been ill for several days. He has volunteered several times. But the team needed it. He still doesn't have a replacement in the team. However, the chairperson makes all the decisions. He can make decisions in the light of any environment. Now the team needs to be rebuilt. It is better to make a decision with 12/13 people than to make a decision with 2/3 people. Our chairman will be on that path soon.
ZH
