Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leaders have expressed the hope that the party’s national council, scheduled to be held in the city tomorrow (Saturday), would help the party to turn around and ensure its strong presence in the political arena again. The leaders also hope that the sixth council would help rejuvenate the party's rank and file to raise the voice for restoration of democracy.
The party has already re-elected Khaleda Zia as party chairperson and Tarique Rahman as senior vice-chairman. Meanwhile, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia sat with her party’s standing committee members yesterday night to finalise a set of proposals for the party’s charter amendment and various organisational decisions ahead of the party’s national council.
The meeting began at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office at 9:15pm with Khaleda in the chair and ended at 12:45am.
Besides unanimously deciding that the party’s charter would be amended, the meeting also decided that the number of the party’s vice-chairman posts would be extended to 35 from the current 16. The number of organising secretaries would be extended to 11 from seven. The meet also decided that the party’s number of executive committee member would also be extended. At was also agreed that the party’s chairperson would be all powerful to make any decision in this regard.
Earlier, talking to reporters around 9:30pm, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said this was the last meeting of the current standing committee formed on December 8, 2009.
The council may confirm acting secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as full secretary general, and joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi as senior joint secretary general.
The party leaders hope that the council would recast the central bodies, including the standing committee, national executive committee and the advisory council, by inducting fresh blood from the ranks of tested, dedicated and devoted leadership, mainly young turks.
“The BNP will be resurrected through the council, gaining a fresh lease of life and making a strong comeback in national politics,” said BNP acting secretary general, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Talking to The Independent, he hoped that fresh directives would come from the speech of party chairperson Khaleda Zia to restore democracy and the rights of people.
“It (council) will also pave the way to come out from the present state of the party and open the path to resurrecting democracy in the country,” he said.
The BNP leader said the council would certainly evaluate the past activities of the party and determine strategies and the next course of action.
Standing committee member Goyeshwar Chandra Roy said the party would get a new leadership that would take the organisation ahead, overcoming repression by the government.
“Every council brings changes in the party leadership. We hope new leaders will be brought in, considering their role in movements launched by the party,” he added.
BNP vice-chairman Maj (Retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed hoped that courageous and brave leaders would be chosen.
“We hope they will be able to take the party forward, overcoming government obstructions,” he said.
The BNP leader further said that grassroots-level leaders are eagerly waiting to see those who will be on the streets with them with courage.
Organising secretary and Gazipur district BNP president, Fazlul Haque Milon, said they believe that the party would get such a leadership. This is needed to rejuvenate the rank and file.
“I think the council will help the party to turn around by establishing a stronger leadership that would carry out the party programme amid any adverse situation,” he said.
The Khagrachari district BNP president hoped that the party would be able to overcome the shortage of leadership in the party through the council.
“We believe that the BNP will come out from the clutches of businessmen and opportunists. If this does not happen, the party will stay where it is now,” he said.
The BNP acting secretary general visited the venue of the council yesterday.
He told reporters that about 800 councillors would take part in the much-awaited council.
Replying to a question, he said he does not expect any sabotage during the council. He sought cooperation from the government to hold the council in a peaceful manner.
The BNP central office is now buzzing with activity. A large number of party leaders and workers are thronging the  office at Naya Paltan to collect their delegate card.
The BNP is going to hold its overdue sixth national council at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh and its adjacent part of the Suhrawardy Udyan. The party got permission to use the Suhrawardy Udyan yesterday.
The last council of BNP was held on December 8, 2009. According to the party's charter, the national council is supposed to be held every three years.
The BNP had tried to hold its national council several times, but failed because of the political turmoil in the country.