BNP standing committee members on Thursday will finalise a set of proposals, including creation of a post of additional secretary general, introducing 17 sub-committees and increasing the number of different committees and posts, for the party’s charter amendment in its national council.

The proposals were made by party’s different units and leaders ahead of BNP’s sixth national council to be held on March 19.

Party sources said a sub-committee on constitution amendment has already finalised a draft of nearly 50 proposals for the constitution amendment and submitted those to the chief of drafting sub-committee for placing those at the meeting of party standing committee members for approval.

The proposals, to be approved by the standing committee members, will be placed at the council session for passing those by the councillors through voice vote.

Contacted, BNP‘s constitution amendment sub-committee member Masud Ahmed Talukder said they submitted a draft of the proposals to Nazrul Islam Khan on Friday.

Another member of the committee, wishing anonymity, said they have prepared the draft recommendations for the charter amendment after reviewing and scrutinising all the 55 amendment proposals submitted by central and grassroots leaders.

He said there is a proposal for forming 17 sub-committees on different sectors, including finance, health, education, foreign, law and order, agriculture, environment, power and energy, information and communication technology (ICT), local government, and women and minorities affairs, in the executive committee.

There is another major proposal for creating a post of party additional secretary general abolishing the post of senior general secretary.

Some other proposals include increasing the number of BNP standing committee members from 19 to 21 while the number of vice-chairpersons’ posts from 16 to 20, the number of joint secretaries from seven to 9 and the number of organising secretaries from seven 7 to 11 and creating 11 more new posts for assistant organising secretaries, creating a 15members party advisory council, ensuring one leader one post, forming Jubo Mohila Dal as a party associate body, recognising Trinomool Dal and Muktijoddha Projonmo Dal as party associate bodies, specifying the responsibility of party senior vice chairman and specifying party’s stance against militancy and violence against minority communities.

Contacted, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Alamgir said the standing committee meeting will approve various proposals for party’s charter amendment and work out different decisions and guidelines for making the council a success.

BNP standing committee member Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman said the party policy makers will asses the proposals at their meeting will approve those are suitable for placing for the session of the party councillors. “If the councillors pass those proposals, our constitution will be amended for incorporating the passed proposals.”

He hoped that their party will be able to make a turnaround through the council by reshuffling BNP’s standing and national executive committees. “Fresh executive committee will be formed with young, active, brave, dedicated, popular, tested and competent party leaders through the council.”

Another party standing committee member preferring anonymity said there are differences of opinion among party top leaders over increasing or decreasing the number of executive committee members. “I think the number will have to be increased if the proposals for the executive committee are passed. In that case, the number can be increased from 386 to 501.”

He said there is a proposal that the senior vice-chairman will perform the responsibility of the party chairperson in his/her absence and preside over the standing committee meeting.

The party will hold its inaugural session at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh. BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia will inaugurate it at 10am. But it is planning to hold its closed-door meeting of the council session at Mohanagar Nattya Mancha in Gulistan to accommodate its nearly 2,850 councillors.

BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said they will invite major political party leaders to attend the inaugural session of their council. He said they have already invited Awami League president Sheikh Hasina and general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam and some other political party leaders.

UNB/RI