The BNP began its membership renewal procedure last week after eight long years, with the message that "good people must be brought into the party" to strengthen the party and ensure its role in state reconstruction.
Ahead of the next national elections, the party is ready to carry out some changes with the aim of activating manpower, collecting and increasing legal funds for the party and restoring internal discipline.
Once the membership renewal process is completed, the BNP will embark on a new member recruitment drive as soon as possible.
BNP's top brass said that part of the preparation for the elections is to strengthen the party and add good, experienced, dedicated, honest and educated people to the party.
Standing Committee Member Selima Rahman said BNP is ready for the elections and is becoming more and more organizationally strong.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said: “We want early elections, but the BNP is not hinting on any specific date. However, if the government wants, it is possible to hold elections between July and August. Without parliament, any constitutional reform will be difficult. Even some changes need to be made to the constitution, and those are not possible without a parliament.”
The party leaders say that as part of the party’s preparations for the polls, they have renewed the party's primary membership, dissolved various district and union committees and formed new ones. Those who were nominated in the 2018 elections have already become active in their respective parliamentary constituencies and have begun extensive mass outreach.
In 2017, the BNP set a target of acquiring about 10 million members. It was found that the party currently has about 7 million primary members. However, there is no specific information in the BNP central office on it. This time, the party wants to create a database.
BNP Central Publicity Secretary Sultan Salauddin Tuku said: "The primary membership renewal process is underway, and I hope that through this, the party will become more active and dynamic."
According to party sources, priority will be given to clean image in member nominations. Priority will also be given to freedom fighters, teachers, lawyers, journalists, businessmen and people from various professions.
BNP leaders say that preparations for the elections are being taken in several installments. Changes are being made to the party's activities, committees and methods. In addition, along with the candidates of the 2018 elections, leaders emerging from the party's associate organization, Chhatra Dal, will have a prominent role in the upcoming elections.
"The party's potential candidates are working in their respective areas, standing by the people. They have been guided in that way. This is part of the election preparations," said BNP Standing Committee Member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain.
The party has already given some instructions to the potential candidates.
According to these instructions, in most areas, potential candidates are restructuring various units of the party as well as conducting extensive public relations.
In addition, local BNP leaders are now playing a key role in the activities of the district and upazila administration.
Mirza Fakhrul said the political and economic crisis will deepen with the delay in holding elections. That is why the party is calling on the government, the Election Commission, and the other political parties to take steps to hold the elections by the middle of 2025 in the larger interest of the country.
"It is a very sensitive period of time. The nation is now in a very critical condition," he added.
