BNP eyes December council, begins preparations for local polls
BNP reviewed its organisational roadmap, governance priorities and election strategy, with leaders stressing the need to strengthen the party's grassroots base ahead of local government elections.
Highlights:
- BNP sees local polls as major organisational test
- Party eyes December for national council
- Grassroots leadership to be elected through council
- Organisational restructuring discussed at standing committee meeting
- Leaders review election pledges and flood relief efforts
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is preparing to strengthen its grassroots organisation ahead of the upcoming local government elections, which the party sees as a major political and organisational challenge.
The issue featured prominently at a meeting of the party's highest policymaking body, the Standing Committee, held at the BNP chairperson's Gulshan office yesterday night (11 July).
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The meeting, chaired by BNP Chairperson and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, began at 8pm and ended at 9:45pm.
According to multiple party sources, discussions focused on the party's national council, organisational activities, economic issues, the financial rehabilitation of party leaders and activists, and the implementation of the government's election pledges.
Among these, preparations for the local government elections and the party's national council received the greatest attention.
Several Standing Committee members reportedly favoured beginning local government elections towards the end of this year, although no specific timeframe was finalised.
Most participants agreed that the elections would be a significant challenge for the party and stressed the need to begin organisational preparations immediately by strengthening grassroots structures and consolidating the party's position at the local level.
December council proposed
The Standing Committee also discussed holding the party's national council.
According to sources, when several members raised the issue, Tarique Rahman said the council would definitely be held. Members expressed preliminary support for organising it in December, although no date has yet been fixed.
The party has also taken a policy decision to move away from centrally imposing leadership and instead elect leaders through the council based on opinions from grassroots members.
The meeting also discussed reconstituting district, metropolitan and other organisational committees whose terms have expired, as well as promoting new leadership at the grassroots to strengthen organisational activities.
Sources said that once the council date is finalised, the party will form a subcommittee to amend its constitution, along with several other committees to oversee publicity, communications, reception and other organisational arrangements.
The Standing Committee also reviewed progress in implementing the government's election commitments, including programmes related to the Family Card, Farmers' Card and canal re-excavation, while discussing ways to implement pledges that remain outstanding.
Leaders also discussed unemployment and expanding employment opportunities.
The financial condition of party leaders and activists who had faced political hardship over the past 17 years was another issue raised during the meeting.
According to sources, two Standing Committee members said many activists had lost their jobs, businesses or livelihoods during that period. The meeting discussed measures to rehabilitate them economically while emphasising merit, competence and qualifications in any support initiatives.
The current flood situation was also discussed, with leaders calling for intensified party-led relief activities and urging BNP leaders and activists to remain actively engaged in assisting affected communities.
A Standing Committee member, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the meeting was held after a long interval due to government responsibilities following the party's return to power.
He said participants held open discussions on the country's political situation, the government's activities and organisational matters, but no final decisions were taken.
The meeting was the party's third Standing Committee session since the 2026 general election. Previous meetings were held on 4 April and 17 May this year.
At the outset of the meeting, Standing Committee members congratulated Tarique Rahman on what they described as the successful completion of his visits to Malaysia and China and presented him with a commemorative crest.
Among those attending were BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir; Standing Committee members Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Begum Selima Rahman and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku. Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas joined the meeting virtually from Malaysia.
