BNP wings await new leadership
Ten out of the 11 associate and affiliated organisations of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have exceeded their organisational tenure, with several committees continuing far beyond the three-year term stipulated in the party constitution, prompting the party high command to move towards a major organisational overhaul after Eid-ul-Fitr.
Party sources said discussions on restructuring the associate bodies are already underway, with new committees likely to be announced soon after Eid as part of efforts to strengthen grassroots leadership and ensure organisational discipline ahead of upcoming local government elections.
According to BNP insiders, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on 28 February instructed his political advisers at a meeting at the Tejgaon office to expedite the reorganisation of associate and affiliated organisations to reinforce the party’s organisational strength.
Several central leaders have since been asked to review the condition of different wings and prepare recommendations, with the reconstitution process expected to begin immediately after Eid.
Nine organisations function as BNP’s associate bodies — Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal, Mohila Dal, Krishak Dal, Tanti Dal, Matsyajibi Dal, Muktijoddha Dal, JASAS and Olama Dal — while Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and Sramik Dal operate as affiliated bodies.
Most of these organisations are currently operating with expired or incomplete committees, some under partial “super five” leadership structures, disrupting the normal leadership pipeline from grassroots to central levels and creating frustration among aspiring leaders and activists.
Even after nearly 47 years, Chhatra Dal has yet to finalise a comprehensive constitution, allowing expired committees to remain in place for extended periods.
Jubo Dal, the party’s main youth wing, announced a partial committee with Abdul Monayem Munna as president and Nurul Islam Nayan as general secretary before the 2024 mass uprising, but the full committee has yet to be finalised more than a year and a half later. Nayan has since been elected a Member of Parliament from Bhola-4.
Swechchhasebak Dal is also operating with an expired committee, with president SM Jilani and general secretary Rajib Ahsan both elected MPs, while Rajib Ahsan is currently serving as a state minister.
Krishak Dal’s committee, formed in September 2021 with Hasan Jafir Tuhin and Shahidul Islam Babul, has also exceeded its three-year tenure, with Shahidul Islam now an MP in the 13th National Parliament.
Several BNP associate bodies have not held national councils for years.
Mohila Dal has been operating under the same leadership since September 2016, when Afroza Abbas was made president and Sultana Ahmed general secretary, continuing nearly a decade without a new council.
Muktijoddha Dal last held its council in December 2013, electing Ishtiaq Aziz Ulfat and Sadeq Khan, while Sramik Dal’s last council was held in April 2014 under Anwar Hossain and Nurul Islam Khan Nasim.
JASAS, the party’s social and cultural wing, has largely been limited to observing commemorative days since its committee was dissolved in 2021 and replaced by a convenor committee that has already exceeded its tenure.
Jatiyatabadi Matsyajibi Dal has remained without a central executive committee since September 2024, after the BNP dissolved its convenor committee following the death of convenor Rafiqul Islam Mahtab.
Member secretary Abdur Rahim, a former Dhaka University Chhatra dal leader, told The New Nation that the organisation played a frontline role in the anti-fascist movement, particularly after 28 October 2023, with many leaders and activists facing arrests, injuries and repression.
He said the formation of a new central executive committee is now essential to accelerate organisational activities across the country.
Former Joint Convener of the Matsyajibi Dal, Omar Faruk Patowari, said that leaders and activists had become frustrated due to the absence of a central committee for the past one and a half years and expressed hope that the party would duly recognise and evaluate their sacrifices.
Following the national election, competition for top positions in associate bodies has intensified, with aspirants lobbying central leaders and highlighting their roles in the anti-fascist movement.
Many are also campaigning through social media to strengthen their positions ahead of the expected restructuring.
Party leaders and activists believe that the absence of timely councils and new committees is weakening organisational strength and restricting the emergence of new leadership.
They say prolonged leadership tenures have increased internal divisions and pushed many deprived activists away from organisational activities.
With local government elections approaching, BNP leaders believe that a rapid reconstitution of associate and affiliated organisations will strengthen the party’s grassroots base and improve electoral performance.
