BNP getting ready for 7th council, says Fakhrul

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said their party is taking preparations for holding its 7th national council.

“We’re preparing for our next council, and we’ve already started our activities, including reorganizing our district units, for it,” he said.

Fakhrul came up with the disclosure while talking to reporters after placing wreaths at BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s grave together with party’s two newly-appointed standing committee members -- Selima Rahman and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku. Reports UNB.

He said Selima and Tuku have been made BNP standing committee members to fill the vacant posts in the party’s highest policymaking body. “They’ve been appointed as per our constitution recognizing their contributions to the party for a long time. They’re also enjoying a positive impression among people.”

After over three years of the party national council, BNP on Wednesday announced that Selima and Tuku were appointed its standing committee members.

BNP’s sixth national council was held on March 19, 2016.

As his attention was drawn to three more vacant posts in their standing committee, the BNP secretary general said they will take necessary steps to fill those in due time.

Fakhrul said placing wreaths at their party founder’s grave along with the new standing committee members, they have taken a fresh vow to intensify their movement to free Khaleda Zia from jail and ‘restore’ democracy.

He also said the government must hold a fresh election under a non-party administration so that people can elect their representatives with their votes.

Selima Rahman said freeing their chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail is now the biggest challenge for them. “So, we the standing committee members will work out some strategies to get our leader (Khaleda) released from jail and keep the party well-organized and united.”

She hoped that democracy and good governance will be restored in the country once Khaleda is freed from jail.

Tuku said they have been made BNP standing committee members at a bad time of the party. “We’ll try to help the party take right decision using our political experience.”

“Our chairperson has been languishing in jail for no reason while our acting chairman has also been staying abroad. Under the circumstances, we’ll try to initiate a movement together with people to free Khaleda Zia and restore democracy,” he added.

AH