UNB, Dhaka
Aiming to stage a political comeback leaving out its failures in the anti-government movement, BNP goes to its sixth national council in the city today with the theme ‘We’ll must Free Democracy’.
Senior leaders and grassroots activists expect a ‘magical overhaul’ of the party’s executive committee and standing committee, and some major amendments to the party charter to make it a stronger political organisation for waging a fresh movement to ‘restore’ democracy in the country.
Party chairperson Khaleda Zia is scheduled to inaugurate the council at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh through hoisting national and party flags at 10am.
BNP senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman, now in London, is likely to address the council through videoconferencing.
Party leaders and activists started thronging the council venue, which was decked out with flags, streamers and flowers, posters containing council theme, slogans and logo, from Friday morning with a festive mood.
The slogan of the council is “Corruption and Misrule will Surely Come to an End, Bangladesh will be a Democratic Country’.
The party’s council logo contains the symbol of the Liberation War and the National Mausoleum, red and green flag and BNP’s electoral symbol — the sheaf of paddy.
As Khaleda and Tarique have already been elected party chairperson and senior vice chairman unchallenged respectively, the councillors will now choose party secretary general, other leaders and approve a set of proposals for BNP’s constitution amendment.
Party insiders, however, said the councillors will empower Khaleda to pick the other office-bearers and members for the national executive and standing committees.
They said the BNP chief can only announce the name of the party’s new secretary general at the council while she may take time to announce the names of new central committee and standing committee members.
A number of party senior leaders said it is almost certain that current BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will be made full-fledged secretary general at the council.
They also said their fresh executive committee and standing committee will be formed with young, active, brave, dedicated, popular, tested and competent party leaders at the council.
The party leaders also hinted that the executive committee may be increased to a 501-member one from 386.
The BNP leaders said a good number of leaders close to Tarique and those who remained very active in the pervious movement will be rewarded while many others who played an inactive role during the movement may be dropped from the new committees or given unimportant posts.
Earlier on Thursday night, the party standing committee at a marathon meeting at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office approved different proposals for party’s charter amendment. The approved proposals will be placed for the session of the party councillors.
A party standing committee member, preferring anonymity, said the councillors may pass various proposals, including forming subcommittees on different sectors, increasing the number of party vice-chairman’s post, the number organising secretaries, specifying the responsibility of party senior vice chairman and party’s stance against militancy and violence against minority communities.
The BNP policymakers also approved Khaleda’s speech, which will focus on various political developments, government’s failures and the future role of her party.
In her address, the chairperson will call for a political reconciliation putting aside previous conflicts and misunderstanding. She will also assure that her party will not pursue the politics of revenge if it returns to power.
Contacted, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said they have completed all necessary preparations for making their council a success.
“Huge enthusiasm has been created centring on our council. We hope our party will rise again through it. We also hope our council will keep a positive role in the country’s democratic politics and restoration of democracy and people’s democratic rights.”
BNP standing committee member Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman hoped that their party will be able to make a turnaround through the council by reshuffling BNP’s standing and national executive committees. “Fresh executive committee will be formed with young, active, brave, dedicated, popular, tested and competent party leaders at the council.”
BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said they believe that the democratic movement will intensify with the successful completion of their council.
He said they invited leaders of different political parties, including Prime Minister and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, its general secretary Ashraful Islam, Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad, Bikalpa Dhara president AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury, leaders of business and professional bodies, foreign diplomats, different countries’ political parties, intellectuals and editors and chiefs of different media outlets.
Besides 3,000 councillors, 7,000 delegates and around 1,500 guests are expected to attend the council.
He said almost all of their councillors and delegates have already reached Dhaka from across the country.