With most district and city committees expired, the BNP faces organisational hurdles ahead of the local government elections, as the party high-ups fear that the party’s disjointed structure could weaken campaign coordination and spark internal disputes.
The high command is also in a dilemma over announcing new committees before the polls, as it may trigger contests for key posts and protests from rival groups. Candidate selection may also become disputed, as many expired committees no longer enjoy full confidence of grassroots.
The unresolved status of more than 72 expelled district-level leaders who took part in the national polls may create further tension, as excluding them could anger their supporters.
According to data from the BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, 72 of the party’s 82 district and city organisational committees have expired. Of them, 49 are convening and 31 are fully-fledged committees. Only eight still have valid tenure.
The problem is very evident in several districts.
Chattogram north district BNP has been without a fully-fledged committee since March 2014, while its 2020 convening committee was dissolved in 2025 following internal conflicts.
Gopalganj and Shariatpur district BNP units have been run by convening committees since 2017. Narail, Kishoreganj, and Cox’s Bazar district BNP units are in a similar state. Fully-fledged committees were formed there in 2017, but their tenures expired long ago.
On June 16, LGRD Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, also the BNP secretary general, told parliament that local government polls across the country may begin in phases from September or October this year.
RISKS BEFORE POLLS
BNP leaders fear that reorganising committees before the polls could trigger disputes, as aspirants who have waited years for councils may protest if they are left out.
Senior party leaders said such disputes may directly affect election work. Leaders denied posts may become inactive, refuse to cooperate with campaign teams or quietly back rival groups.
The second risk is linked to keeping the expired committees in place. Party leaders fear this may create uncertainty over who will lead local campaigns, select polling agents, and coordinate with the central leadership.
Insiders said the party is facing difficulties in implementing the high command’s instructions due to the absence of new committees.
The third risk concerns candidate selection.
Local government elections depend heavily on ward, union, municipality, and district-level networks. These units help identify possible candidates, assess local popularity, and prepare polling-centre teams.
But in many areas, BNP’s committees are no longer within their valid tenure. Party leaders said this may weaken the established organisational channel for choosing candidates.
As a result, influential local leaders, former lawmakers, or factional groups may try to push their preferred candidates. This could lead to allegations of favouritism and the emergence of rebel candidates in some areas.
The fourth risk involves more than 72 senior district-level leaders expelled during the national election period. The party has yet to decide whether they will be allowed to return to organisational activities.
A BNP Standing Committee member, requesting anonymity, said both options carry risks. “If the expelled leaders are kept out of the reorganisation process, their supporters may protest or remain inactive. If they are rehabilitated, other aspirants may oppose the move.”
Regarding the problems, Syed Emran Saleh Prince, joint secretary general of BNP, said the party has already begun identifying organisational problems in different areas ahead of the local government elections. “Steps will be taken to resolve them, and the committee reorganisation process will begin in full swing soon.”
He said, “After forming the government, a favourable environment has now been created. Although party leaders are busy with parliamentary sessions, budget, and legislative work, they are trying to address organisational issues.”
Party sources said the leadership may soon hold discussions with organising secretaries to review the situation in different divisions.
None of BNP’s 17 organisational units in Dhaka and Faridpur divisions have a valid tenure. The Dhaka, Manikganj, Munshiganj, and Narsingdi district committees, formed between 2022 and 2023, have exceeded their terms.
Except for Brahmanbaria, all BNP units in the Chattogram and Cumilla divisions have expired, including those in Chandpur and Rangamati (formed in 2022) and Cox’s Bazar (formed in 2017).
Across Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal, Rangpur, Sylhet, and Mymensingh divisions, most BNP units have expired. Only those in Jashore, Khulna city, Chuadanga, Patuakhali, Thakurgaon, Jamalpur, and Netrokona are still valid, while Sherpur remains suspended.
