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The National Citizen Party (NCP) is preparing to reorganise its central committee nearly two years after its formation, with changes expected in the portfolios and responsibilities of senior leaders.
Convener Nahid Islam and Member Secretary Akhter Hossen are likely to retain their positions, while the reconstituted central committee and political council are expected to be announced soon.
Party sources said the posts of chief coordinator, chief organiser for the northern region, chief organiser for the southern region and spokesperson would be abolished under the proposed structure. The leaders currently holding these positions may be assigned other key responsibilities.
Under the proposed arrangement, Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary and Chief Organiser for the Southern Region Hasnat Abdullah may become senior joint conveners. Spokesperson Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain and Chief Organiser for the Northern Region Sarjis Alam are being considered for the posts of senior joint member secretaries.
The proposed political council and central committee will have a revised leadership structure, with additional joint conveners and joint member secretaries expected to take on organisational responsibilities.
Party sources said the political council had discussed the main structure of the reorganisation at several meetings over the past two weeks. At the latest meeting, discussions on restructuring the central committee and allocating responsibilities reached the final stage. Final approval, however, rests with Nahid Islam and Akhter Hossen.
The proposed leadership list does not include current Senior Joint Convener Samanta Sharmin and Senior Joint Member Secretary Nahida Sarwer Niva. According to party sources, both will remain members of the party and its advisory council.
Their earlier resignations from the two positions at a party council, in protest against the NCP's participation in the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance ahead of the national election, have influenced the restructuring process, the sources said. Their involvement in organisational activities has declined since then.
New responsibilities and organisational units
Under the proposed structure, responsibilities for political liaison, organisational activities, finance, media, public relations and public policy will be distributed among different leaders. The party plans to establish around 30 specialised secretariats, subcommittees and cells.
Nasiruddin Patwary may oversee political liaison and coordination with other political parties, as well as supervise the activities of the NCP's affiliated organisation, Jatiya Juba Shakti.
Sarwar Tusher may be given responsibility for media, public relations, branding and cultural activities, while Abdullah Al Amin is being considered for financial and commercial policymaking.
A 23-member organisational subcommittee led by Sarjis Alam has also been formed to strengthen grassroots activities. Ariful Islam Adeeb and Ali Ahsan Junayed will serve as deputy heads.
The party plans to appoint 10 divisional organising secretaries and 10 assistant organising secretaries to coordinate activities at divisional and district levels.
Minority outreach and affiliated organisations
The restructuring plan places emphasis on expanding the political participation of ethnic and religious minorities. The party plans to establish an ethnic communities cell and a proposed National Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Alliance.
The ethnic communities cell is expected to include representatives of small ethnic groups in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and the plains, as well as non-Bengali communities.
The proposed National Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Alliance would operate as an independent affiliated organisation rather than a direct branch of the NCP. The party is also preparing to establish Jatiya Sebchhasebak Shakti as a separate platform for social welfare and voluntary activities.
The NCP aims to strengthen its grassroots presence through these initiatives ahead of its national council and the local government elections planned for next year.
Changes are also being considered in the leadership of Jatiya Nari Shakti, one of the party's affiliated organisations. The NCP is considering new appointments to the posts of convener, member secretary and organising secretary.
Five women leaders are being considered for the three positions: Mahmuda Alam Mitu, Monira Sharmin, Nusrat Tabassum, Humaira Noor and Manjila Jhuma.
NCP Joint Convener Pritom Das told the Daily Sun, “Discussions and work on restructuring our central committee have been underway for several days. The reconstituted committee will be officially announced to the press very soon.”