BNP asks inactive leaders to step aside

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has asked its ‘failed and inactive leaders’ to step aside from their posts, ensuring passage for ‘dedicated and spirited leaders and activists’.
The party recently sent the message to its grassroots levels by issuing a letter.
The BNP has asked party's grassroots chapters to complete formation of all district, city, upazila and municipal committees by 30 September. The central body of BNP will constitute the committees if new committees are failed to be formed within by then.
The three-page letter was sent to the district and city committee presidents and general secretaries on 9 August.
However, several BNP leaders said they hadn’t received any letter, though others said they did.
Rajbari district BNP president Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam on Tuesday told Prothom Alo, “I am yet to receive the letter, though I have heard about it.”
Magura district BNP president Kabir Murad, said he had received the letter. “We’ll form the committee as per directives,” he said.
The 101-member Magura district BNP’s committee was formed in 2009.
Of the 101, two or three leaders are now seemingly inactive, Kabir Murad said. “It’s difficult to determine who is active and who is not, especially when one gets arrested from his residence or shot on the street just for supporting BNP.”
“Qualified and bold leadership is needed now,” said the letter, adding, “The people who have failed to perform, should step away from their posts on their own, to give way for qualified and bold leaders.”
Md Shahjahan, central joint secretary general and president of Noakhali BNP, said he had received the letter headed, ‘To activate and organise BNP further’.
The letter said that the party had observed that many leaders and activists were incompetent, unqualified and negligent of their duties. Their self-interests and tendency to compromise has weakened and harmed party activities. These are serious offences against the party.
When asked if the letter would increase rifts in the party, Md Shahjahan said, “I do not sense any rift in the party over the party directives. Rather, the directives will meet the longstanding demand of the grassroots level leaders and activists. The main theme of the letter is to give priority to leaders who sacrificed for the party.”
The party also directed its committees to take support from standing committee members, the national executive committee, advisers of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, former members of parliament and responsible leaders to form the new committees.
At the same time, the senior and competent leaders who are not able to play the organisational roles, are suggested to be kept in advising committees. The advisers will enjoy vice-president posts.
Party sources said this is BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s initial step of reforming the party before she leaves for London.
Returning from London, the BNP chief will start reorganising he central committee and associate party wings, the sources added.