BNP’s overhaul may begin after Eid

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is preparing a significant overhaul of its organisational structure after Eid-ul-Fitr as the party grapples with expired committees at every level, stagnant leadership pipelines and growing frustration among activists who feel sidelined after years of sacrifice under authoritarian rule.

The party’s national council is now a decade overdue. The sixth national council, held on 19 March 2016, formed the national executive committee, standing committee and chairperson’s advisory council – all for three-year terms. No council has been held since. The central committee’s tenure expired seven years ago. Of BNP’s 11 front and associate organisations, 10 are now operating with expired committees, in some cases unchanged for a decade.

Speaking to journalists at the party chairman’s Gulshan office on Wednesday night, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that the party’s council will be held within this year.

“We have not yet set a time. But I think the council will be held soon.”

Responding to a question, the BNP secretary general said that after the formation of the government, the party’s activities are going on in a small scale since many leaders have joined the government. 

The BNP leader also said the government is working to hold local government elections within this year. 

Party insiders say a full national council is unlikely this year, given that running the government remains the top priority of the senior leadership.

Instead, the focus in the immediate term is on restructuring affiliate and associate organisations to stabilise the party before a council can be convened, possibly at the end of this year, they say.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, in a meeting with political advisers at the Tejgaon office on 28 February, directed them to begin the restructuring of front and associate organisations quickly with work expected to start after Eid.

The first visible step may come with Jatiyotabadi Chhatra Dal, whose new committee is expected to be announced shortly after Eid following instructions from the party’s high command to central leaders to look into the matter.

The committees of Jubo Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal, Krishak Dal, Mahila Dal, Muktijoddha Dal, Tanti Dal, JASAS, Sramik Dal and Matsyajibi Dal have all also expired. Notably, Chhatra Dal still lacks a full constitution after nearly 47 years of existence.

The consequences of the long organisational freeze are also being felt at the grassroots.

Party leaders speaking to this newspaper described a narrowing of the path for new leadership to emerge, rising internal conflict, and a sense among long-serving activists that opportunists who sat out the years of repression are now being rewarded ahead of those who endured it.

“If our party does not evaluate performance and deprive dedicated party activists, they will not get any inspiration to be loyal or sacrifice for the party in the future,” one central leader said seeking anonymity.

Party leaders also argued that entering future elections with a weak organisational structure would hand rival parties an advantage, making restructuring not merely an internal matter but a political imperative. Tarique Rahman became party chairman following the death of former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia on 30 December 2025 and subsequently led BNP to a two-thirds majority in the 13th national election on 12 February, before assuming office as prime minister.