The BNP high commend is in a dilemma to announce the party’s highest policymaking body, the standing committee, and the full-fledged national executive committee even three weeks after the national council, according to party leaders. The announcement is being delayed as the party high commend is taking time to select the right person for the right post, they said. Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who was entrusted with the responsibility of forming the party's central bodies, is considering several yardsticks to select leaders for the 19-member standing committee, which would have representation from all regions, said a senior BNP leader.
He further said that the chairperson also has to bear in mind that a leader cannot hold more than one post in the party, as decided in the March 19 national council. The leader, however, said the party chairperson is working on it cautiously and central bodies, including the standing committee, will soon be declared with a combination of new and old leadership.
The names being discussed at the party forum for standing committee membership include BNP chairperson’s advisers, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Advocate Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, BNP vice-chairpersons, Sadeque Hossain Khoka, Selima Rahman, Abdullah Al Noman, Maj. (retd) Hafiuddin Ahmed, Shah Moazzem Hossain and BNP chairperson’s advisers, barrister Shajahan Omar, Bir Uttom, and Dr Osman Faruk, he said.
A new joint secretary general, preferring anonymity, said the party leadership is presently working on who should be retained and who should be dropped from the existing committee, and induction of new faces in the top most policymaking body of the party.
 He said the high command wants to induct one leader each from Chittagong and Barisal zones, but there are more than one as likely choices. On the other hand, Khaleda Zia wants to have one leader each from Rajshahi and Khulna zones and is looking for them.
“It is difficult to select one standing committee member from the two stalwarts of Chittagong, Abdullah Al Noman and Amir Khaosur Mahmud Chowdhury, and another from four leaders hailing from Barisal, Advocate Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, Selima Rahman, Maj. (retd) Hafiuddin Ahmed, and barrister Shajahan Omar, Bir Uttom,” he added.
 Sources said senior party leaders are arguing that there should not be more than one leader from the same region to maintain balance in the party leadership.
Three posts in the standing committee have become vacant following the deaths of former secretary general Khondoker Delwar Hossain, Dr RA Ghani and Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury.