BNP central body to get 200 new posts
Several changes in party constitution suggested
RAFIQUL ISLAM AZAD
A draft, drawn up by the constitution amendment sub-committee of the BNP, proposes increasing the number of standing committee members to 21 from the present 19, according to sources. It also proposes increasing the number of vice-chairmen to 20 from the present 16, the number of joint secretaries to 10 from seven, the number of organising secretaries to 11 from seven and creating 22 new posts of assistant organising secretary. The sub-committee cancelled a proposal to create a post for a parallel co-chairman of the party. It proposed creation of two advisory councils with 15 members in each. One advisory council will be on political affairs and the other on subject-wise. A senior member of the sub-committee, preferring anonymity, said a subject committee of the sub-committee has prepared the draft amendments to the party constitution after holding a series of meetings over the last few days. He said the report of the constitution amendment sub-committee will be submitted to the party chairperson, Khaleda Zia, tomorrow (Saturday). It will soon be placed before the standing committee meeting for being adopted as the draft amendment to be placed before the council on March 19. The constitution amendment procedure would be completed and it would become a part of the party constitution after being considered by the national council, he said.
According to the sub-committees decision, the national executive committee will have 351 members instead of the present 439. However, over 200 more leaders would be accommodated in different 17 subject-wise sub-committees with the same status. The strength of some of the committees might also be increased through discussion. The sub-committee proposed that the senior vice-chairman would discharge the responsibility of the party chiarperson in her absence until the election of a new chairperson. The senior vice-chairman will enjoy the powers of the chairperson until the next council.
The sub-committee also proposed to ensure one post for one leader and election of grassroots-level leaders instead of outsiders. According to the recommendation, the sub-committees will be formed on economic affairs, foreign affairs, law and order, education, health, agriculture, communications, good governance, environment, power and energy, ICT, local government, cooperative and social welfare, women empowerment, mega projects and PPP, defense, election, national unity and minority. Convenors of the sub-committee will enjoy the status of national executive secretarial post.
The convenors and members of the sub-committee will be elected at the national council, which will also set the terms and reference of the sub-committees. The sub-committees will be formed on the model of parliamentary standing committees. The sub-committees will submit its reports to the standing committee every month. The number of such sub-committees might be increased if necessary. The sub-committee also recommended opening of a training institution with appointment of its principal with the status of an advisor to the party chairperson. The sub-committee recommended increasing the subscription fees from Tk. 5 to Tk. 10. It also made it mandatory to induct at least a minimum of 10 per cent new members by each unit of the party.
Earlier, the sub-committee, headed by standing committee member Tariqul Islam, was formed for the national council scheduled to be held at the Instituton of Engineers, Bangladesh. Later, a subject committee was formed, with BNP chairpersons adviser Iqbal Hasan Mahmud as its chief, to preare the draft recommendations after discussing 55 amendment proposals. The subject committee prepared the recommendations in line with the directives of the sub-committee.
