New leadership of Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal finalized
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has intensified discussions over forming a new committee for its associate organization, the Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal (Volunteer wing of the party), as part of a major organizational restructuring.
The initiative aims to make the organization more dynamic and strengthen its activities at the grassroots level in the post-election political landscape. According to party sources, the announcement of the new committee could come at any time this week.
Party insiders said that on Saturday evening, BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held separate meetings at his political office in Gulshan in Dhaka with leaders of the Dhaka District BNP, Dhaka Metropolitan South BNP, and the central committee of the Swechchhasebak Dal.
The meetings focused on the party's future organizational plans and the current political situation. During the discussions, the BNP high command also hinted at the formation of new committees for several affiliated organizations.
At the meetings, Tarique Rahman emphasized maintaining organizational discipline, strengthening party unity, and expanding engagement with the public. He also called on the party's associate and affiliated organizations to support the government's efforts to fulfill its election pledges.
Leaders attending the meetings presented updates on the organizational condition of their respective units and proposed various measures to further strengthen the party. The BNP chairman provided necessary guidance in response to those proposals.
Among those attending the meeting were Dhaka Metropolitan South BNP Convener and Member of Parliament Rafiqul Alam Majnu, Member Secretary Tanvir Ahmed Robin, Dhaka District BNP President Khandaker Abu Ashfaq, and General Secretary Nipun Roy Chowdhury.
Speaking about the meeting, Rafiqul Alam Majnu said that the BNP chairman inquired about the well-being of party leaders and also asked whether they were regularly attending the party office.
Sources said that a similar meeting with Dhaka Metropolitan North BNP had also been scheduled for the same day but was postponed due to unavoidable circumstances. The BNP chairman is expected to meet with the Metropolitan North leaders within the next couple of days.
Current Top Leaders Bid Farewell
On the same day, Tarek Rahman also held a separate meeting with the top leadership of the Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal. The meeting focused on the organization's current condition and future activities. According to sources, Tarek Rahman has decided to dissolve the existing committee and appoint a new one in an effort to further strengthen and activate the organization. It is also learned that he formally bid farewell to the current top leaders during the meeting.
Leaders of the organization said that Swechchhasebak Dal President SM Jilani, General Secretary Rajib Ahsan, Senior Vice President Yasin Ali, and Organizing Secretary Nazmul Hasan met the BNP chairman on Saturday evening. They drew the party leadership's attention to the need for reorganizing the committee. Tarek Rahman assured them that the matter would be addressed promptly before formally concluding the meeting.
According to party sources, the current three-year committee was formed on September 4, 2022, with SM Jilani as president and Rajib Ahsan as general secretary. The committee has now completed its tenure.
Moreover, President SM Jilani, now serving as a Member of Parliament, has been unable to devote as much time to the organization as before. Likewise, General Secretary Rajib Ahsan has been occupied with his responsibilities as both a Member of Parliament and a State Minister, limiting his involvement in organizational affairs. As a result, the party leadership believes new leadership is needed to keep the organization active.
Names Under Consideration for the New Committee
For the post of president, the most frequently discussed names include current Organizing Secretary Nazmul Hasan, Senior Vice President Yasin Ali, and former General Secretary of Dhaka Metropolitan South Swechchhasebak Dal, Nazrul Islam.
For the position of general secretary, several former leaders of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal are reportedly under consideration. Among those being discussed are former Chhatra Dal President Fazlur Rahman Khokon, former General Secretary Iqbal Hossain Shyamal, former President Kazi Rawnakul Islam Srabon, former General Secretary Saif Mahmud Jewel, as well as Dhaka Metropolitan South Swechchhasebak Dal President Zahir Uddin Tuhin.
What Party Leaders Are Saying
Asked about the formation of the new committee, Swechchhasebak Dal Organizing Secretary and presidential hopeful Nazmul Hasan told Asia Post, "Reorganizing the committee is an ongoing process. Our organizational guardian, Tarek Rahman, will announce the new committee whenever he considers the time appropriate."
Another presidential aspirant, Nazrul Islam, the former General Secretary of Dhaka Metropolitan South Swechchhasebak Dal, told Asia Post, "The current president is a Member of Parliament and the general secretary is a State Minister. Both have performed successfully. However, they are now heavily occupied with their state responsibilities. Therefore, a new committee is essential to ensure the organization's continued dynamism."
Current General Secretary Rajib Ahsan said, "We will continue to discharge our responsibilities with sincerity for as long as we remain in office. If the party appoints new leadership, we will welcome that decision."
Responding to questions on the matter, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi told Asia Post, "I have not received any official information regarding such a decision. However, changes may come in the interest of keeping the organization dynamic. This is an ongoing process."
Party insiders believe that the restructuring of the committee will inject new momentum into the organization's activities and make it easier to implement future political programs.