The BNP will finalise its draft amendment to the party constitution for the enlargement of its central bodies within a day or two, sources said. The aim behind the move is to place it before the national council on March 19 for approval. The party is also planning to hold its closed-door meeting of its council session at Mohanagar Nattya Mancha in Gulistan so as to accommodate all its councillors, party sources added.
The constitution amendment sub-committee has already prepared the draft amendment and is likely to meet party chairperson Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan office tonight to review the amendment proposals. The party’s standing committee, its highest policymaking body, may also meet within a day or two to finalise the draft amendment and take a decision on holding a closed-door council session at Mohanagor Nattya Mancha, said the sources.
A subject committee—led by Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku—has prepared the draft amendments to the party constitution in line with the directives of the sub-committee and will hold a series of meetings in the last few days.
The committee has prepared the draft recommendations for the constitution amendment after reviewing and scrutinising all the 55 amendment proposals submitted by central and grassroots-level leaders. The BNP committee proposed to increase the number of its standing committee members from 19 to 21, according to sources in the sub-committee.
It also proposed to increase the number of vice-chairpersons’ posts from 16 to 20, the number of joint secretaries from seven to 10 and the number of organising secretaries from seven to 11 and create 22 new posts for assistant organising secretaries.
The committee cancelled a proposal to create a post for a parallel co-chairman of the party and proposed to create two types of advisory councils with 15 members in each. One advisory council will be on political affairs and another on the basis of subjects.
The constitution amendment procedure would be completed and it would be a part of the party constitution after the national council considers it.
The sub-committee decided to reduce the number of national executive committee members from 439 to 351. However, over 200 more leaders would be accommodated in different 17 subject-wise sub-committees with the same status. The number of some committees might also be increased through discussions.
The sub-committee proposed that the senior vice-chairman would discharge the responsibility of the party chairperson in his/her absence until the election of a new chairperson. The senior vice-chairman would then also enjoy all the powers of the party chairperson until the next council. The sub-committee also proposed to ensure one post for one leader and election of grassroots-level leaders from among themselves instead of outsiders.
According to the sub-committee’s recommendations, the sub-committees would be formed on economic affairs, foreign affairs, law and order, education, health, agriculture, communications, good governance, environment, power and energy, information and communication technology (ICT), local government, cooperative and social welfare, women’s empowerment, mega projects and public-private partnerships (PPP), defence, election, national unity and minorities. Convenors of the sub-committee will enjoy the status of the posts of national executive secretaries.