BNP Secretary-General and LGRD Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is set to be nominated as the ruling party’s presidential candidate, a move that could trigger a significant reshuffle both within the BNP’s top leadership and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s Cabinet.
Multiple high-level BNP sources said the party has finalised Fakhrul’s nomination after its National Standing Committee entrusted Tarique with selecting the candidate.
According to the sources, Fakhrul has also signed the written consent required to contest the presidential election, although the BNP has yet to make an official announcement.
If nominated and elected, the veteran BNP leader would have to relinquish his posts as party secretary-general and LGRD minister, immediately opening two important positions in the ruling party and government.
Senior Joint Secretary-General and Prime Minister’s Political Adviser Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has emerged as the most discussed potential successor to Fakhrul in the BNP, while possible changes involving several Cabinet portfolios are also under consideration, party sources said.
The development comes just three days before the August 13 deadline for presidential nominations.
According to the election schedule, nomination papers can be submitted between 10am and 4pm on August 13.
Candidates may withdraw until August 18, while voting will take place in the National Parliament on August 20 if more than one candidate remains in the race.
The BNP has already collected two nomination papers from the Election Commission.
On Sunday, BNP Vice-Chairman and Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni and Rizvi collected the papers from the office of the chief election commissioner.
However, Fakhrul publicly maintained that he had not been informed of any decision.
BNP Media Cell member Shairul Kabir Khan, quoting Fakhrul, said: “After being informed about the matter, the secretary-general said that he knows nothing about it. Nothing has been communicated to him by the party.”
Decision taken at highest level
According to BNP policymaking-level sources, the presidential nomination was discussed at the party’s National Standing Committee meeting on August 2.
The meeting ultimately authorised BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman to finalise the candidate.
Following subsequent discussions at the party’s highest level, sources said Fakhrul was selected.
Under the presidential election law, a candidate must provide written consent to contest and perform the duties of president if elected.
Party sources said Fakhrul signed that declaration on Saturday.
The BNP, however, is expected to formally announce its candidate closer to the nomination deadline.
Rizvi leads race to succeed Fakhrul
Fakhrul’s possible move to Bangabhaban has already intensified discussion over who would take charge of the BNP’s day-to-day organisational leadership.
Multiple party sources said Rizvi is currently the leading contender to become acting secretary-general.
Rizvi did not contest the recent national election and was not inducted into the Cabinet, leaving him positioned to take on a larger organisational role, according to senior party leaders.
One possibility under discussion is appointing an acting secretary-general until the BNP holds its National Council, where a permanent successor could be selected.
Home Minister and BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed is also being discussed for the secretary-general post, although no decision has been finalised.
Fakhrul has been at the centre of the BNP’s organisational leadership for nearly 15 years.
He became senior joint secretary-general at the party’s fifth National Council in 2009 and acting secretary-general on March 20, 2011.
He was formally elected secretary-general on March 30, 2016.
During Khaleda Zia’s imprisonment and Tarique Rahman’s years in the United Kingdom, Fakhrul became one of the principal faces of the BNP’s political and organisational activities.
Cabinet reshuffle also on cards
Fakhrul’s election as president would also leave the Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Ministry without its current minister.
Party sources said one scenario being discussed would see Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed take charge of the LGRD Ministry, while Water Resources Minister Mohammad Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee could move to the Home Ministry.
The discussions remain preliminary, however, and sources stressed that no Cabinet changes have been finalised.
Any reshuffle would come only after Fakhrul’s presidential nomination and election are confirmed.
From classroom to Bangabhaban?
Born on January 26, 1948, in Thakurgaon, Fakhrul began his professional career as a teacher before entering full-time politics.
He was elected chairman of Thakurgaon Municipality as an independent candidate in 1988 and later joined the BNP during the anti-Ershad movement.
He became president of Thakurgaon district BNP in 1992.
Fakhrul was elected MP from Thakurgaon-1 in 2001 and subsequently served as state minister for agriculture and later for civil aviation and tourism.
His elevation to the presidency would therefore mark not only another change at Bangabhaban following Mohammed Shahabuddin’s resignation, but also the end of a long chapter in which Fakhrul served as the BNP’s principal organisational face.