More than six months after sweeping to power with a commanding majority following 17 years on the sidelines, the BNP is still struggling to get its house in order.
As the party marks its 48th founding anniversary today, organisational activities remain sluggish, grassroots discipline has frayed, and senior leaders are increasingly absorbed in state responsibilities rather than party affairs, leaving the organisation adrift at a critical moment.
More than two years after the uprising, the BNP has yet to hold its national council or complete councils of several bodies, while most grassroots committees are already operating beyond their terms.
Political analysts say the party’s top priority should have been strengthening its organisation, especially as it grapples with an ailing economy, fragile energy and law-and-order sectors, and a politically tense environment.
“The opposition is challenging the government on issues, but the BNP as a party is not being seen much on the ground.”
Political analyst Al Masud
With most BNP policymakers now absorbed in government, many grassroots leaders and activists are instead focused on establishing local dominance amid allegations of extortion and internal clashes, according to sources.
The loss of its matriarch Khaleda Zia seven weeks before the February election has further weakened efforts to unite and reorganise, they added.
Prof Al Masud Hasanuzzaman, former teacher of Jahangirnagar University’s Department of Government and Politics, warned that if the situation is not addressed soon, it could spell disaster for the BNP as it heads into local polls.
He cautioned that when party and government overlap too much, intended government benefits -- public money, jobs and services -- risk flowing to party activists rather than citizens.
Prof Mojibur Rahman of Dhaka University’s Institute of Education and Research said that, due to the lack of councils, a large section of party leaders remains outside decision-making, leaving many feeling increasingly sidelined.
Multiple senior leaders also admit it.
PARTY-GOVERNMENT OVERLAP
The BNP Standing Committee is the party’s highest policymaking body, responsible for setting political strategy, making key organisational decisions and providing guidance.
Most of its 18 members, with the recent inclusion of three, now hold government positions. Only five remain outside the government, one of whom is ill and undergoing treatment.
Those holding state responsibilities include Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, five ministers and two prime ministerial advisers. Two other senior leaders resigned from their party posts after becoming president and Speaker.
The BNP held only four Standing Committee meetings in its first six months in government.
The leadership structure has also shifted, with Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the BNP’s longest-serving secretary general, becoming president after years of steering the party. Ruhul Kabir Rizvi is now serving as acting secretary general.
More BNP leaders have also taken government posts. In June and July, 17 current and former leaders were appointed to top positions at 11 government institutions, while party leaders became administrators of all 11 city corporations and 42 Zila Parishads.
BNP Joint Secretary General Syed Emran Saleh Prince said, “After the election, many of the party’s senior leaders became MPs and ministers. It is taking us some time to reorganise the party.”
WEAKNESS
The BNP last held its national council on March 19, 2016. The party constitution says a council is supposed to be held every three years to elect or approve different committees, which also serve three-year terms.
Party leaders said no council could be held during the nearly 16 years of Awami League rule because of political, legal and organisational constraints.
The organisational backlog now extends from the centre to the grassroots.
According to the Nayapaltan central office, 72 of its 82 district and city committees have already expired.
A similar situation exists among the party’s affiliated and associate bodies. The terms of nine of the 11 committees have expired, while several continue to function with old committees and limited activities.
Political analyst Al Masud said the BNP would suffer if it failed to strengthen its grassroots, adding, “Without conventions, elected representatives cannot enter the party’s organisational structure.”
“The opposition is challenging the government on issues, but the BNP as a party is not being seen much on the ground,” he said.
“As a ruling party, it has to play its role and support the government’s efforts.”
The BNP has yet to fully implement its “one leader, one post” policy, nearly a decade after incorporating the provision into its constitution.
Masud said holding multiple party posts limits opportunities for others, weakens internal competition and blocks the rise of new leadership.
GRASSROOTS
The BNP faces growing grassroots challenges, with some leaders and activists accused of criminal activities and engaging in internal feuds, damaging the government’s image.
Prof Mojibur said that if the BNP fails to control its grassroots, the consequences could weaken public confidence in the government.
An internal police report prepared in March and April identified 1,200 alleged extortionists across the country. Of the 197 people with direct political affiliations, 181 were linked to the BNP.
Police also identified 329 people as patrons of alleged extortionists. Of the 271 with political affiliations, 214 were associated with the BNP.
Rights group Ain o Salish Kendra reports that 18 BNP men were killed in infighting over the last six months.
The allegations against grassroots leaders have ranged from extortion and looting to rape, intimidation and interference with police activities.
For example, in May, BNP leaders were accused of looting 300 sacks of cumin in Rajshahi; in August, a ward-level BNP leader in Kishoreganj was accused of raping an 11-year-old girl; and on August 30, BNP, Chhatra Dal and Sramik Dal leaders were arrested over extortion allegations.
The upcoming local government polls are a major organisational test for the BNP, with multiple leaders already vying for the same posts despite the party leader’s call for one candidate for each post.
The Daily Star spoke to BNP leaders in Munshiganj, Gazipur, Sirajganj, Natore and Bogura and found local activities largely confined to central programmes and national and party occasions.
Masud said this raises fears of internal conflict before nominations are finalised and reflects weaker central control.
Founded in 1978, the BNP ruled for more than a decade under Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia. The party is now led by their son, Tarique Rahman.
The BNP weathered the 2007-08 army-backed caretaker government, its 2008 election defeat, boycotts in 2014 and 2024, and alleged widespread rigging in 2018. Hasina’s fall opened an opportunity.
Both analysts said each generation faced a different task: Zia built the party, Khaleda held it together, while Tarique must now manage both party and government.
