BNP’s midnight melodrama 

There is old melodrama again in BNP at midnight. There was reshuffle in the top positions of the party when the people of the whole country, including the party leaders, were sleeping. Last Thursday and Friday midnight, 39 posts of the party's central committee, Metropolitan, Juba Dal, and Chhatra Dal committees were changed in a theater style. Three days before Eid when everyone was busy with sacrifices, the party's two Dhaka (North and South) committees, Chattogram and Barishal metropolitan committees were dissolved.

At the same time, the four Dhaka regional committees of Chhatra Dal and the central committee of Juba Dal were also dissolved. Many immediately took to social media to express their outrage over the late-night committee change. There is a lot of criticism about the 260-member central committee of the Chhatra Dal, especially giving priority to Dhaka University. Many people were surprised by such a dramatic decision of the team. The leaders and activists of the party complained that such midnight melodrama is an old tradition of BNP.

A senior leader of BNP said that even earlier in 2007, a dramatic change in the leadership of BNP was brought in the meeting of the National Standing Committee, the highest policy-making forum of the party. Then M Saifur Rahman, the senior member of the Standing Committee, was appointed as the acting chairman and Vice-President Major (Retd) Hafizuddin Ahmad Bir Bikram was appointed as the interim secretary general. At the same time, the secretary general of the party, Khondkar Delwar Hossain, was relieved due to health reasons. At that time, the expulsion order of Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, Joint Secretary General Ashraf Hossain and Office Secretary Mofikul Hasan Tripti was withdrawn. Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan was made a member of the National Standing Committee of the party. Then there was a storm of criticism all over the country.

The party's senior leaders complain that BNP has not yet come out of that tradition of late-night scandal. Decisions are being implemented one after another under the orders of the top person of the party in power. This is destroying the political order of the party. Those who are experienced, sacrificed, oppressed in politics are being deprived just because of not being able to give feedback before implementing the decision.

It is known that BNP has already abolished the eight metropolitan committees of the Chhatra Dal, the central committee of the Jubo Dal, and Dhaka, Chattogram, Barishal and a total of nine committees together. The posts of 39 leaders have been reshuffled. BNP appointed 34 people and demoted 5 people. The party gave this information in separate notices last Friday and Saturday.

Besides, BNP has formed two Foreign Affairs Advisory Committees in two phases in the category of advisors and members to improve relations with the global community. Related sources say that at least seven other district committees, including Dhaka, Gazipur, Khulna, Comilla and Gazipur metropolis will be dissolved at any time late at night. Due to the expiration of the term, the Central Women's Dal, Tanti Dal, Fishermen's Dal and Sramik Dal committees will be dissolved and new committees will be announced. The new committee of Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha (Jasas) will also be announced anytime. There is a danger that there will be anger within the party if committees are made late at night without the council.

On June 15, the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal announced that a partial committee of 260 members had been formed. Those deprived of positions attacked Chhatra Dal secretary Nashir Uddin. The new committee includes 30 people from Dhaka University, one from Dhaka Medical College, one from Jahangirnagar University, four from Jagannath University, one from Dhaka College, one from Eden Women's College and one from private university.

The committee of Super Five consists of President Rakibul Islam Rakib, General Secretary Nashir Uddin Nashir, Senior Vice President Abu Afsan Mohammad Yahia, Senior Joint General Secretary Shyamal Malum, Organizing Secretary Amanullah Aman, Office Secretary Md Jahangir Alam and Publicity Secretary Sharif Pradhan Shubo – all from Dhaka University. 

But in the last 15 years, those who have been injured and killed in the movement are all outside Dhaka University. Hundreds of activists who were associated with the committee are making negative comments about those who are not properly evaluated. Not only the Chhatra Dal, many people expressed their anger on the high command of the party for giving important posts to those who failed to play their role in the 12th parliamentary elections and allegations are also being raised that the posts were given through financial transactions.

BNP Joint Secretary General Shahid Uddin Chowdhury, when asked about the sudden change in committees at night, said that there will be further restructuring in BNP and the organization of the party. “This restructuring is temporary. I think there will be a council after that.”