The Bangladesh Nationalist Party is facing mounting organisational challenges as 10 of its 11 affiliated and associate bodies are operating with expired committees.
Despite party constitution requiring periodic restructuring, most wings have failed to hold timely councils for years, obstructing leadership changes -- from the grassroots to the central level.
Party insiders said that the situation had deepened frustration among leaders and weakened internal coordination across key organisational units.
Party leaders said that although the organisation had been unable to hold conferences during the Awami League government due to political pressure, there was now growing dissatisfaction over the continued failure to reconstitute expired committees even after the change in circumstances following August 5, 2024.
Several leaders also pointed to the continuing absence of elected and representative committees, arguing that decision-making had become even more centralised within the party structure.
The situation, they said, had been further complicated by the involvement of many senior leaders of affiliated organisations in parliamentary and ministerial responsibilities, which had reduced their focus on organisational affairs.
Party figures, however, said that there was now a renewed scope for restructuring and revitalising the organisational committees at various levels through fresh councils and with greater grassroots participation.
A senior BNP leader said that the party now had an opportunity to reorganise its internal structures, noting that councils had not been possible for a long time due to various obstacles, including police pressure and restrictions on holding large gatherings.
There is now, he said, greater flexibility to organise programmes and councils, including meetings and events in any location.
The BNP leader said that activating the party’s organisational bodies through conferences was now necessary, adding that decisions should be based on the views of grassroots leaders and activists.
He also viewed that newly inducted individuals should not be assigned responsibilities without proper consideration, arguing that organisational policies needed careful reviews.
The leader further acknowledged that the party had not been properly following its constitution, despite having a formal charter setting out clear rules for organisational management.
Menwhile, Several leaders indicated that new committees of Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal could be announced shortly after Eid-ul-Azha.
According to party insiders,BNP chairman and prime minister Tarique Rahman has taken an initiative to restructure long-overdue committees, generating renewed enthusiasm among leaders and activists.
BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Wednesday told New Age that committees of the party’s affiliated organisations that had exceeded their tenure should be reconstituted.
The process, he said, is under way, although, he added, it is not yet clear when new committees would be finalised.
According to party leaders, the BNP stepped up efforts to restructure its key bodies, including Jubo Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal and Chhatra Dal, alongside Mahila Dal, Krishak Dal, Tanti Dal, Matsyajibi Dal, Muktijoddha Dal, Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha and Olama Dal.
The Krishak Dal committee was last formed in September 2021 with Hasan Jafir Tuhin as president and Shahidul Islam Babul as general secretary.
In March 2024, a central committee of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal was announced with Rakibul Islam Rakib as president and Nasir Uddin Nasir as general secretary, but its tenure expired in February this year.
Similarly, the Mahila Dal committee, formed in September 2016 with Afroza Abbas as president and Sultana Ahmed as general secretary, has continued far beyond its stipulated three-year term without a council.
Muktijoddha Dal has also not held a council for over a decade since its last one in December 2013, when Ishtiaq Aziz Ulfat and Sadek Khan assumed leadership.
Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal last held its national council in April 2014, forming a committee, led by Anwar Hossain and Nurul Islam Khan Nasim, but no new council has been held since its tenure ended in 2016.
Matsyajibi Dal formed an ad hoc committee in February 2019, but following the death of its convenor Rafiqul Islam in August 2024, the BNP dissolved the committee on September 23, 2024, with no new body formed since.
Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha announced an ad hoc committee in November 2021.
The BNP also formed a partial central committee of its youth wing -- Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal -- appointing Abdul Monayem Munna as president and Nurul Islam Nayan as general secretary in July 2024.
Earlier, on September 4, 2022, a partial committee of Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal was formed, with SM Jilani as president and Rajib Ahsan as general secretary.
