Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia is likely to expand the size of the standing committee and bring about a few changes in the national executive committee to curb the discontent inside the party by accommodating some of the leaders who feel they have not been assessed properly or have been dropped from the committees.
“Khaleda Zia has already heard out the leaders who have got the berths they desire in the committee as also those who have alleged they have not been properly evaluated. All the leaders suggested to her (Khaleda) to increase the size of the standing committee to accommodate them,” said a senior leader, preferring anonymity. The chairperson assured the leaders that necessary measures would be taken to remove the discontent from among them, saying she would look into the matter. “She also advised the deprived leaders to have patience,” he said. The leader said the size of the standing  committee members is likely to be expanded by 21 to 23 from the existing 19 to accommodate those leaders who feel deprived.
The chairperson has, also in principle, agreed to take steps to resolve the problem arising out of promoting junior leaders while bypassing seniors in the committee, he said. Khaleda may take steps to remove the grievances among the leaders before leaving for Mecca to perform Hajj early next month, he added.
The party constitution gives the chairperson the authority to increase the number of standing committee members from the existing 19, but it has to be approved by the next council.
Standing committee member Brig. Gen. (retd) ASM Hannan Shah said: “Pacifying aggrieved leaders is not in our hands, it is in the hands of the party chairperson. We're waiting… If she wants to consult us, we'll give our opinion on the grievances of the grassroots-level leaders."
The outspoken leader said, “Though the number of standing committee members is fixed, the chairperson can increase it. But it has to be approved by the council later on.”
BNP vice-chairman Mohammad Shajahan said the problem would not last long and he was hopeful that it would be resolved once political activities begin. “The dissatisfaction among leaders is temporary, just like a bubble. It will not be there when political activities begin,” he added.
The large gathering on the premises of the lower court, where BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia appeared for a hearing and to seek bail, indicates that the present situation in the party is a temporary phenomenon, he added. He said the party would take measures to recast the hierarchy of party leaders in the given list in accordance with seniority.
A senior leader, who did not get the post he desired in the party, said everyone has become silent, as the chairperson has not taken some of their comments given to the media well.
A volatile situation is prevailing within the BNP over the party’s newly-announced national executive committee and standing committee.  
Many senior leaders have not been accommodated in the committees and some have not got their desired posts. These leaders are maintaining silence, refusing to talk to media-persons. But workers close to them said they might resign from the party or become inactive if they were not properly evaluated.
The newly-elected leaders, barring a few like secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, joint secretaries Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal and Khairul Kabir Khokan, have not been coming to the party's central office at Naya Paltan after the committees were announced.
Assistant office secretary Taiful Islam Tipu insisted that senior leaders like standing committee members, joint secretaries and vice-chairmen usually do not come to the office when there is no programme. He even said that 40 to 50 leaders named for posts of secretaries visited the party headquarters on Thursday.
Following the resignation of four party leaders, many leaders apprehended that more leaders could put in their papers or become inactive in politics.
BNP executive committee member Quazi Salimul Haq Kamal resigned from his post on Wednesday and Mohiuddin Khan Mohon on Thursday. Earlier, newly-elected vice-chairman Mosaddek Ali Falu resigned from his post. Rangpur district BNP vice president and ex-MP Paritosh Chakrabarti also resigned from his post.
Besides, assistant office secretary Shamimur Rahman Shamim wrote to the party chairperson requesting her to remove his name from the list.
Vice-chairman Abdullah Al Noman expressed his disappointment over the committees and disclosed to reporters that he wanted to resign from the party.
The BNP announced a 502-member national executive committee, a 19-member standing committee and a 73-member advisory council on August 6. But the new committee irked at least two dozen senior leaders as they did not get berths or the posts they desired.