BNP flounders on new panels for front bodies

The delay in reconstituting seven of BNP’s 11 frontal organisations has stalled party activities, much to the chagrin of party leaders and workers. Even though their tenures ended a long time ago, the reconstitution process was being hampered mostly due to lobbying by the central leaders who wanted to induct their chosen persons into the committees, said a senior BNP leader preferring anonymity.

He said the party leaders and activists were feeling frustrated as they were not getting proper berths in the party or in the associate bodies. “This was because many leaders were staying put in the same post over the years, and, as a result, the leadership was not flourishing,” he added.

According to BNP insiders, only four front organisations—Jubo Dal, Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sanskritik Sangstha (Jasas), Secchasebok Dal and Mohila Dal—have running committees at present, while the rest seven have been without valid committees for one to 18 years.

The committees are formed for a two-year term.

The BNP constitution lists 11 front organisations—JCD, Jubo Dal, Mohila Dal, Muktijoddha Dal, Sramik Dal, Jasas, Krishak Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal, Tanti Dal, Ulema Dal and Matsyajibi Dal.

BNP leaders alleged that Krishak Dal, Ulema Dal, Tanti Dal and Matsyajibi Dal had turned into the weakest links in the party set up with no valid committees for the past six to 18 years, and have no organizational activities at the central or district levels.

The last committee of Krishak Dal was announced about 18 years ago, while that of Ulema Dal 14 years ago, Tanti Dal 10 years ago, and Matsyajibi Dal six years ago.

Krishak Dal general secretary Shamsuzzaman Dudu admitted that the last committee was formed a long time ago.

He said the post of president was lying vacant after Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir resigned from the post following his elevation as the BNP secretary general.

“We will take measures regarding the council in consultation with our party chairperson Khaleda Zia after her return from London,” he added.

Ulema Dal president Hafez Abdul Malek said the last committee of his organisation was announced in 2003. Malek said they had intimated the matter to the party chairperson, who had asked them to continue running the organization. “We are ready to reconstitute the committee, and will take measures if we are asked to do so,” he added.

The state of Matsyajibi Dal in particular is in dire straits as it has been running with just three men in the helm—president, secretary and organizing secretary—since its last reconstitution in 2011. The organising secretary has resigned from the post in the meantime, sources said. The full 736-member committee of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, one of BNP’s strongest front organizations, was announced on February 7, nearly 16 months after the formation of a partial committee in October 2014. The tenure of the committee of Sramik Dal, another strong body, has also expired.

Admitting that the two-year tenure of the organisation had expired this April, Sramik Dal president Anwar Hossain said they were trying to hold a council within this year for the formation of a new committee.

The same is the case with the Muktijoddah Dal committee.

Muktijoddah Dal president Ulfat Aziz said that he was hopeful of the formation of the next committee very soon. “We have a plan to hold councils at divisional headquarters after Eid-ul-Azha, and then we will go for holding the council for the next committee,” he added.

A BNP standing committee member declined comment over the situation in the front organizations. He rather suggested placing the question to the party secretary general, saying that he was the appropriate person to give a real scenario of the organizations and the party’s next course of action. Fakhrul, the party secretary general, could not be reached over the phone.

 

BNP flounders on new panels for front bodies

The delay in reconstituting seven of BNPs 11 frontal organisations has stalled party activities, much to the chagrin of party leaders and workers. Even though their tenures ended a long time ago, the reconstitution process was being hampered mostly due to lobbying by the central leaders who wanted to induct their chosen persons into the committees, said a senior BNP leader preferring anonymity. He said the party leaders and activists were feeling frustrated as they were not getting proper berths in the party or in the associate bodies. This was because many leaders were staying put in the same post over the years, and, as a result, the leadership was not flourishing, he added. According to BNP insiders, only four front organisationsJubo Dal, Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sanskritik Sangstha (Jasas), Secchasebok Dal and Mohila Dalhave running committees at present, while the rest seven have been without valid committees for one to 18 years. The committees are formed for a two-year term. The BNP constitution lists 11 front organisationsJCD, Jubo Dal, Mohila Dal, Muktijoddha Dal, Sramik Dal, Jasas, Krishak Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal, Tanti Dal, Ulema Dal and Matsyajibi Dal. BNP leaders alleged that Krishak Dal, Ulema Dal, Tanti Dal and Matsyajibi Dal had turned into the weakest links in the party set up with no valid committees for the past six to 18 years, and have no organizational activities at the central or district levels. The last committee of Krishak Dal was announced about 18 years ago, while that of Ulema Dal 14 years ago, Tanti Dal 10 years ago, and Matsyajibi Dal six years ago. Krishak Dal general secretary Shamsuzzaman Dudu admitted that the last committee was formed a long time ago. He said the post of president was lying vacant after Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir resigned from the post following his elevation as the BNP secretary general. We will take measures regarding the council in consultation with our party chairperson Khaleda Zia after her return from London, he added. Ulema Dal president Hafez Abdul Malek said the last committee of his organisation was announced in 2003. Malek said they had intimated the matter to the party chairperson, who had asked them to continue running the organization. We are ready to reconstitute the committee, and will take measures if we are asked to do so, he added. The state of Matsyajibi Dal in particular is in dire straits as it has been running with just three men in the helmpresident, secretary and organizing secretarysince its last reconstitution in 2011. The organising secretary has resigned from the post in the meantime, sources said. The full 736-member committee of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, one of BNPs strongest front organizations, was announced on February 7, nearly 16 months after the formation of a partial committee in October 2014. The tenure of the committee of Sramik Dal, another strong body, has also expired. Admitting that the two-year tenure of the organisation had expired this April, Sramik Dal president Anwar Hossain said they were trying to hold a council within this year for the formation of a new committee. The same is the case with the Muktijoddah Dal committee. Muktijoddah Dal president Ulfat Aziz said that he was hopeful of the formation of the next committee very soon. We have a plan to hold councils at divisional headquarters after Eid-ul-Azha, and then we will go for holding the council for the next committee, he added. A BNP standing committee member declined comment over the situation in the front organizations. He rather suggested placing the question to the party secretary general, saying that he was the appropriate person to give a real scenario of the organizations and the partys next course of action. Fakhrul, the party secretary general, could not be reached over the phone.