Five months after forming the government, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is now shifting its focus to organizational restructuring.
The party has begun preparations to reorganize long-expired committees at the district, metropolitan, thana, ward, and associate organization levels.
According to multiple senior party sources, the restructuring process is likely to begin in phases from August. The party is also considering replacing the long-standing practice of announcing committees through press releases with leadership elections conducted through party councils.
According to BNP leaders, organizational activities have slowed considerably over the past few months due to the demands of running the government. Many central leaders have been occupied with official responsibilities, affecting grassroots organizational work. In many areas, party activities have become limited, while expired committees have continued functioning without replacement. With local government elections approaching, the BNP high command now considers organizational restructuring its top priority.
As part of this initiative, BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held separate meetings on Saturday night at the party chairman's political office in Gulshan with leaders of Dhaka District BNP, Dhaka South Metropolitan BNP, and the Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal.
The meetings reviewed the organizational condition of each unit, the number of expired committees, structural weaknesses, internal disputes, and future action plans.
Party insiders said Tarique Rahman will also hold similar meetings with leaders of Dhaka North Metropolitan BNP and other affiliated organizations before meeting leaders from districts and metropolitan units across the country.
The objective is to assess the grassroots situation and finalize the roadmap for restructuring.
A large portion of the BNP's organizational structure is currently being run by expired committees. Many committees with three-year terms have remained in office for five to eight years, and in some cases even longer. The prolonged absence of council sessions has also limited opportunities for new leadership to emerge.
Party sources said that while the BNP was in opposition, organizing councils in many districts was difficult. Political instability also forced many organizational activities to remain suspended, making restructuring necessary from the central leadership down to the grassroots.
Reorganization May Begin in August
A senior policymaking source said the party has a preliminary plan to begin restructuring expired committees in phases from August, although no official schedule has yet been announced. Organizational preparations are already underway.
According to party sources, the first phase will focus on expired central committees of affiliated organizations, followed by district and metropolitan committees, and later committees at the thana, upazila, and ward levels.
Among the affiliated organizations, the Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal has received the highest priority in the restructuring discussions. Its three-year central committee, formed on September 4, 2022, has already completed its tenure. The committees of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal are also expected to be reorganized in the near future.
Several leaders who attended the meetings said Tarique Rahman gave positive indications regarding the formation of new committees and instructed party leaders to expedite the restructuring of expired district committees. He also emphasized that the committee formation process must remain transparent and free from controversy, favoritism, and internal conflict.
Party insiders said one of the BNP's key organizational reform plans is to institutionalize leadership selection through party councils. While committees have traditionally been announced through press releases, Tarique Rahman has expressed his preference for electing leadership through council sessions wherever possible.
Several BNP leaders said preparations for local government elections are another major reason behind the restructuring drive. The party aims to reactivate grassroots organizations, reduce internal disputes, develop new leadership, and strengthen public engagement.
As part of the process, each unit's organizational strength, participation in party programs, public outreach, and overall performance will also be evaluated.
Leaders present at the meetings said Tarique Rahman has pledged to devote regular time to party affairs alongside his responsibilities in government, stressing that building a strong organization is just as important as running a strong government.
Following the completion of the restructuring process, the BNP also plans to hold its long-overdue National Council. The party's last National Council was held on March 19, 2016. Although the three-year committee has remained in place for nearly a decade—with several changes made to the National Executive Committee during that period—a full council has not been held since.
Asked about the matter, BNP Standing Committee member Dr AZM Zahid Hossain said: "No final decision has yet been taken regarding the National Council. However, the restructuring process is underway, and whatever is done will be through the council."
Jubo Dal President Abdul Monayem Munna said: "There is no alternative to organizational restructuring if we want to make the party more dynamic and stronger. Where committee terms have expired, the party is giving importance to bringing in new leadership quickly. Committees will be formed through a transparent and acceptable process based on the opinions of grassroots leaders."
Chhatra Dal General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir said: "The restructuring of expired committees of the party's affiliated and associate organizations is under consideration. Whatever decision the party takes on the matter will be implemented."
