BNPs natl executive committee meeting today
Khaleda to instruct party men on future course
RAFIQUL ISLAM AZAD
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia will give instructions to the party rank and file on the future political course at the partys national executive committee meeting today, according to party sources. The first meeting of the 502-member national executive committee is going to be held at 10am at Hotel Le Mridien in the city about two years after the partys national council. Khaleda will preside over the meeting, which is going to be held at a time when the political arena is heated up around the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case verdict slated for February 8.
As part of her preparations leading up to a possible political face-off, Khaleda has been holding meetings with the partys rank and file to hear them out, according to party sources. Party leaders expect that the chairperson would give directives at the meeting regarding political activities and their responsibilities during the next polls in her absence, in case she is sent to jail. The chairperson will also give the party leaders a directive as to how they should carry out a movement to realise their demand for election-time supportive government.
Since it is the first meeting of the national executive committee, the chairperson will hear the party leaders out and is likely to give them instructions, said BNP standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain.
He said organisational matters and the latest development in the political arena would also come up in the discussion. BNP chairpersons adviser, Shamsuzzaman Dudu, said the national executive committee meeting is being held when there is no democracy in the country and the political, socio-economic, law and order situation, judiciary, administration and education are in a bad state. We expect that the party chairperson, in her concluding speech, will give us directives on the future course of political action, he said. The BNP formed its 502-member national executive committee on August 6, 2016 over four and a half months after its national council was held on March 19 the same year.
As per the partys constitution, the meeting of the executive committee is supposed to be held every three months, but no meeting could be held over the last one and a half years. The BNP will broadcast live the national executive committee meeting though its three facebook pages Facebook.com/bnp.communication, Facebook.com/ bnpbd.org Facebook.com/ bnplivenettv, said BNP chairperons media wing officer, Shairul Kabir Khan. Along with members of the partys national committee, presidents and general secretaries of district committees and front organisations will also take part in the meeting.
There will an inaugural session in the morning, followed by a working session, according to party sources.
The BNP leaders alleged that they wanted to hold the meeting either at the Institution of Engineers or Hotel Purbani, but were denied permission for reasons not known.
A senior leader preferring anonymity said the focus of the meeting will be on what would be the partys next course of action if Khaleda Zia is convicted in the graft case and if she becomes ineligible to partake in the elections. He said the chairperson is likely to advise the party leaders and activists on movement and elections and not to opt for any violent activities if she is landed in prison.
Sources said, BNP Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman is expected to give his speech for the party leaders and activists through video conference.
