Vacant posts of BNP standing committee remain a mystery

“Leaders aspiring for a post in standing committee are losing hearts and staying away form party activities”

The indecision of the BNP leadership in filling up the vacant posts are seriously hampering the party's organisational activities, party insiders said.
The BNP could not fill up two vacant posts of its 19-member standing committee after the party’s sixth national council was held on March 19 last year. On September 27, another post became vacant following the death of Brig. Gen. (Retd) Hannan Shah.
According to insiders, leaders who aspire for a position in the standing committee are losing their hearts and are staying away form organisational activities.
Most existing standing committee members, except party chairperson Khaleda Zia and secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, are not busy with politics these days. Many of them are busy with formation of committees in their respective areas and gathering followers. Some of them are engrossed in professional engagement.
Family sources of many leaders said they cannot pay attention to party activities for being busy in dealing with the cases filed against them by ruling party activists. All the standing committee members, except three, were implicated in dozens of cases.
Of the members, Fakhrul was implicated in 86 cases and Rafiqul Islam Miah in 72 cases, according to party sources.
About four months after the council, the BNP announced its partially complete 502-member national executive committee and the names of 17 leaders for its 19-member standing committee and 73-member advisory committee.
Tarique Rahman, a standing committee member, is now living in London in self-exile, while Salahuddin Ahmed, another standing committee member, who was allegedly a victim of enforced disappearance and eventully found in Shillong, has been undergoing treatment in India.
Two standing committee members—MK Anwar (85) and Tariqul Islam (72)—have been suffering from heart and kidney-related diseases, while three standing committee members—Moudud Ahmed, Jamiruddin Sircar and Rafiqul Islam Miah—are busy with professional duties.  
Rafiqul Islam Miah's personal aide, Maksudur Rahman, however, said that the BNP leader hardly gets time to concentrate on his legal practice as he has to attend different courts every day in connection with the cases filed against him. Mirza Abbas, who is now in Singapore for treatment, and Dr Abdul Moin Khan are hardly seen in outdoor programmes of the party. Despite the cases pending against him, Fakhrul tries to be present at all party programmes including press conferences, briefings, discussions and functions of partners of the 20-Party Alliance.
Besides, standing committee members Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Lt Gen. (Retd) Mahbubur Rahman, Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, Nazrul Islam Khan and Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury also attend different party activities.  
 Asked whether the absence of a number of policymakers are hampering the party activities, Fakhrul replied in the negative. “The BNP is a big party. The absence of a few leaders does not affect party activities,” he said.
In reply to a query, Fakhrul said the vacant posts of the standing committee would be filled up in accordance with the party constitution. “It depends on the party chairperson,” he added.
Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain echoed Fakhrul’s words, saying that he does not see any problem with the absence of a number of standing committee members. Almost all the standing committee members based in Dhaka attend every meeting of the standing committee, he added.
 Replying to a question, Hossain said the matter of filling up the vacant posts of the standing committee is yet to be discussed. “The party constitution has entrusted the responsibility to appoint standing committee members to the party chairperson. She (Khaleda) will fill up the vacant posts in a proper time,” he added.  
  After announcement of the party standing committee, a number of senior BNP leaders, including Abdullah Al Noman and Maj. (Retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed, had expressed resentment as they did not find a place in the committee.
Later, Khaleda Zia told them to calm down and work for the party.
Names of Shah Moazzem Hossain and Khandaker Mahbub Hossain had also surfaced as new standing committee members at that time.  When contacted, Abdullah Al Noman said it is the organisaitnal business of the chairperson to fill up the vacant posts. “It is not clear to me as to why she has kept the posts vacant,” he added.

Vacant posts of BNP standing committee remain a mystery

“Leaders aspiring for a post in standing committee are losing hearts and staying away form party activities”

The indecision of the BNP leadership in filling up the vacant posts are seriously hampering the partys organisational activities, party insiders said. The BNP could not fill up two vacant posts of its 19-member standing committee after the partys sixth national council was held on March 19 last year. On September 27, another post became vacant following the death of Brig. Gen. (Retd) Hannan Shah. According to insiders, leaders who aspire for a position in the standing committee are losing their hearts and are staying away form organisational activities. Most existing standing committee members, except party chairperson Khaleda Zia and secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, are not busy with politics these days. Many of them are busy with formation of committees in their respective areas and gathering followers. Some of them are engrossed in professional engagement. Family sources of many leaders said they cannot pay attention to party activities for being busy in dealing with the cases filed against them by ruling party activists. All the standing committee members, except three, were implicated in dozens of cases. Of the members, Fakhrul was implicated in 86 cases and Rafiqul Islam Miah in 72 cases, according to party sources. About four months after the council, the BNP announced its partially complete 502-member national executive committee and the names of 17 leaders for its 19-member standing committee and 73-member advisory committee. Tarique Rahman, a standing committee member, is now living in London in self-exile, while Salahuddin Ahmed, another standing committee member, who was allegedly a victim of enforced disappearance and eventully found in Shillong, has been undergoing treatment in India. Two standing committee membersMK Anwar (85) and Tariqul Islam (72)have been suffering from heart and kidney-related diseases, while three standing committee membersMoudud Ahmed, Jamiruddin Sircar and Rafiqul Islam Miahare busy with professional duties. Rafiqul Islam Miahs personal aide, Maksudur Rahman, however, said that the BNP leader hardly gets time to concentrate on his legal practice as he has to attend different courts every day in connection with the cases filed against him. Mirza Abbas, who is now in Singapore for treatment, and Dr Abdul Moin Khan are hardly seen in outdoor programmes of the party. Despite the cases pending against him, Fakhrul tries to be present at all party programmes including press conferences, briefings, discussions and functions of partners of the 20-Party Alliance. Besides, standing committee members Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Lt Gen. (Retd) Mahbubur Rahman, Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, Nazrul Islam Khan and Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury also attend different party activities. Asked whether the absence of a number of policymakers are hampering the party activities, Fakhrul replied in the negative. The BNP is a big party. The absence of a few leaders does not affect party activities, he said. In reply to a query, Fakhrul said the vacant posts of the standing committee would be filled up in accordance with the party constitution. It depends on the party chairperson, he added. Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain echoed Fakhruls words, saying that he does not see any problem with the absence of a number of standing committee members. Almost all the standing committee members based in Dhaka attend every meeting of the standing committee, he added. Replying to a question, Hossain said the matter of filling up the vacant posts of the standing committee is yet to be discussed. The party constitution has entrusted the responsibility to appoint standing committee members to the party chairperson. She (Khaleda) will fill up the vacant posts in a proper time, he added. After announcement of the party standing committee, a number of senior BNP leaders, including Abdullah Al Noman and Maj. (Retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed, had expressed resentment as they did not find a place in the committee. Later, Khaleda Zia told them to calm down and work for the party. Names of Shah Moazzem Hossain and Khandaker Mahbub Hossain had also surfaced as new standing committee members at that time. When contacted, Abdullah Al Noman said it is the organisaitnal business of the chairperson to fill up the vacant posts. It is not clear to me as to why she has kept the posts vacant, he added.