The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has entered the final phase of preparations for its upcoming Sixth National Council, launching a comprehensive organizational restructuring campaign aimed at revitalizing the party. Seeking to overcome years of organizational stagnation, the party is working to transform itself into a more dynamic, modern, and effective political organization while continuing its responsibilities in government. The restructuring also aims to strengthen BNP's organizational capacity and prepare it to politically confront future movements and challenges from opposition forces.
According to party sources, the restructuring process will extend beyond the BNP's central organization to include all major affiliated and associate bodies, including Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Jubo Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal, Krishak Dal, Mohila Dal, Sramik Dal, Matsyajibi Dal, and other important wings. Expired committees at both the central and grassroots levels will be reorganized, while efforts are underway to strengthen local organizational activities ahead of the National Council, where new leadership is expected to be elected.
Although the exact date of the council has yet to be finalized, senior party leaders indicated that it is most likely to be held either in December this year or between January and February next year.
Tarique Rahman's Continuous Meetings and Organizational Directives
Party insiders said that last Saturday night, BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held separate meetings with the top leaders of Dhaka District BNP, Dhaka Metropolitan South BNP, and Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal.
During the meetings, he emphasized accelerating organizational activities, strengthening party discipline, reinforcing grassroots structures, and expanding direct engagement with the public. He also instructed party leaders to ensure the active participation of affiliated organizations in implementing the government's electoral commitments.
According to party sources, after the conclusion of the second session of Parliament, Tarique Rahman is expected to hold similar meetings with the leadership of Dhaka Metropolitan North BNP and other affiliated organizations. He also plans to meet leaders from various metropolitan and district units across the country in phases.
Strengthening Organizational Activities
BNP Standing Committee member Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said that alongside governing the country, the party is giving equal importance to strengthening its organizational activities. With parliamentary activities now fully underway, the leadership has initiated efforts to reinforce the party from the central level down to the grassroots. However, he noted that the exact schedule of the National Council has not yet been finalized.
Meanwhile, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said that BNP is a large political organization whose grassroots leaders and activists constitute its greatest strength. Therefore, the party is regularly reviewing the performance of various organizational units and will introduce changes whenever necessary to strengthen the organization.
Major Leadership Changes Expected in Affiliated Organizations
Party sources revealed that significant changes are being planned within the leadership of BNP's key affiliated organizations, particularly Jubo Dal, Chhatra Dal, and Swechchhasebak Dal. Partial committees or so-called "Super Five" leadership committees may be announced at any time.
Preparations have also reached their final stages for announcing new partial committees for Dhaka Metropolitan North and South BNP, Krishak Dal, Mohila Dal, and Matsyajibi Dal. These committees are expected to be expanded into full-fledged committees before the National Council.
Sources further indicated that many metropolitan-level leaders have already begun lobbying and establishing contacts in an effort to secure positions in the forthcoming committees.
Priorities in the Restructuring Process
Several key considerations are receiving priority during the restructuring process.
For Chhatra Dal, preference is being given to regular students who demonstrate academic excellence, organizational competence, and active participation in political activities.
In Jubo Dal and Swechchhasebak Dal, priority will be given to leaders who played active roles in previous political movements, faced political cases or persecution, and have proven themselves in grassroots activism.
Meanwhile, efforts are also underway to promote greater women's leadership within Mohila Dal and to strengthen grassroots representation among working-class communities through Sramik Dal.
Reorganization of Expired Committees
Most of BNP's 82 organizational units currently operate with committees whose terms expired years ago. Among the party's 11 affiliated and associate organizations, the mandates of 10 have also long expired. In some cases, committees have remained unchanged for three years, five years, or even more than a decade.
Party leaders believe that organizational stagnation has also resulted from many senior leaders simultaneously serving as Members of Parliament or government ministers, limiting their ability to devote sufficient time to party affairs. This has, in turn, restricted opportunities for emerging leadership.
The ongoing restructuring initiative is intended to address these challenges.
Inactive Leaders to Be Replaced; Sacrifice to Be Rewarded
According to party insiders, Tarique Rahman has adopted a firm stance regarding the restructuring process. Individuals who remained inactive during political struggles or acted opportunistically are unlikely to retain key organizational positions.
Instead, greater importance will be given to leaders and activists who consistently stood by the party during difficult times and endured arrests, legal cases, political persecution, or other forms of repression.
A BNP Standing Committee member, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the party is no longer willing to compromise on organizational principles. Those who carried the party's flag through its most challenging periods will now be entrusted with greater leadership responsibilities.
A Continuous Organizational Process
BNP Organizational Secretary Principal Selim Bhuiyan stated that the restructuring of affiliated and associate organizations is an ongoing process. Work is continuing to reorganize expired committees, and the party leadership will announce new committees at an appropriate time.
Political Analysts' Assessment
Political analysts believe that many BNP organizational units have suffered from prolonged stagnation due to the continuation of the same leadership for many years. As a result, the emergence of new leadership has been hindered and organizational effectiveness has weakened in several areas.
According to analysts, bringing young, talented, and politically tested leaders into leadership positions could inject fresh energy into the organization. They believe that recognizing dedicated activists—particularly within Chhatra Dal, Jubo Dal, and Swechchhasebak Dal—would strengthen BNP's organizational foundation in the years ahead.
Overall, analysts view BNP's restructuring ahead of its Sixth National Council as more than a routine leadership transition. Rather, it represents a comprehensive long-term organizational reform aimed at strengthening grassroots structures, developing new leadership, and preparing the party to face future political challenges with greater unity, effectiveness, and institutional strength.