The BNP has decided to instruct its grassroots leaders and activists to intensify organisational activities and begin preparations for elections to different tiers of local government.
The party also decided to convene a meeting of its National Executive Committee as soon as possible, assigning Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to make the necessary arrangements.
Senior leaders condemned what they described as attempts by the opposition alliance to mislead people over the July Charter and the referendum and decided to step up efforts to clarify and communicate the party’s position to the public.
They also expressed concern over the growing drug menace across the country and urged the government to take more effective action.
The issues were discussed at a meeting of the BNP Standing Committee at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office on Saturday night. BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman chaired the meeting.
Party leaders had detailed discussions on when local government elections could begin, how they might be held and what preparations the party would need.
They said local government polls differ from parliamentary elections and are often more competitive and challenging, making it necessary to begin preparations immediately.
During the more than three-hour meeting, leaders also discussed reviving organisational activities and reconstituting committees whose terms had expired.
Two Standing Committee members raised the issue of holding the BNP’s national council. Tarique said the council would be held, while most members suggested organising it towards the end of the year.
According to meeting sources, the Standing Committee also reviewed the progress of the government’s priority projects and the implementation of the BNP’s election manifesto.
The committee expressed satisfaction with the progress of the Family Card, Farmer Card and canal excavation programmes, as well as initiatives to provide allowances to religious leaders.
It praised the prime minister’s initiatives to implement the election pledges and expressed hope that the manifesto’s targets could be achieved within the stipulated timeframe.
Senior leaders also discussed ways to create jobs, reduce unemployment and help party leaders and activists who had faced political persecution and financial losses over the past 17 years become economically self-reliant.
Several members said many party members had lost jobs and businesses and suffered severe financial hardship during that period.
Most members, including Tarique, said jobs and other opportunities should be given based on qualifications and professional competence.
However, they opposed providing employment or other benefits solely on the basis of political identity or past party activities.
They said the BNP should not follow the practice of treating party affiliation as the only qualification, alleging that this had happened under the previous Awami League government.
According to meeting sources, the leaders also discussed the 2026 parliamentary election. Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan was asked to prepare a detailed report on the matter.
The meeting also reviewed the current flood situation and ongoing rescue and relief efforts.
It stressed the need to deliver relief quickly to affected people and improve coordination between government agencies and party units.
Leaders also discussed Tarique’s recent visits to Malaysia and China and the agreements reached during the trips.
The committee said the visits had strengthened development cooperation with the two countries on the basis of mutual respect.
The Standing Committee also expressed concern over renewed fighting between Iran and the United States following a ceasefire.
It urged both countries to end the conflict through dialogue, saying the fighting was harming economies in the Middle East and beyond.
Standing Committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Selima Rahman and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud attended the meeting. Mirza Abbas joined virtually.
