BNP’s Organizational Activities in Deep Stagnation After Coming to Power

After waiting for more than one and a half decades, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) — founded by the Declaration of Independence maker, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman — returned to state power through a landslide victory in the national election on 12 February and formed the government on 17 February. During this long period, the party has spent time sometimes as the opposition and sometimes outside parliament.

Leaders and activists endured jail, repression, attacks, and cases while continuing the movement and party programmes amid extreme adversity. However, within just one and a half months of assuming power, the party’s organizational activities have fallen into severe stagnation. The once vibrant Nayapaltan party office now stands almost empty, and deep frustration is growing among grassroots workers.

Most of BNP’s front and associate organizations have already exceeded their designated tenure or are at the very end of it. As of March-April 2026, the two-year term of the current central committee of Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chatrodal (led by President Rakibul Islam Rakib and General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir) ended on 1 March this year. Discussions and processes for forming a new committee are now underway.

The organizational failure of the Rakib-Nasir-led Chatra Dal committee became evident during the previous fascist regime. Now, demands for new leadership have emerged strongly from within the organization’s own leaders and activists. Those aspiring for leadership are working individually at various educational institutions to protect general students’ interests and rebuild Chatra Dal’s image.

The massive public expectation for student politics that arose after the July 2024 mass uprising has not been fully met by the organization. The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement led the July uprising, and with the support of the masses, they brought down the Sheikh Hasina government. Although Chatra Dal carried out some positive activities after the uprising, organizational stagnation has set in. Its activities have slowed further after student union elections in various universities.

Since 19 October last year, those deprived of positions have been agitating for an expanded committee. They say they were initially assured of a small full committee, but even after two years and repeated assurances, no full committee has been formed. Many have faced social and family humiliation for not getting positions despite suffering jail, repression, and cases during the anti-autocracy movement. They are now suffering from a lack of party identity.

The current partial central committee of Jatiotabadi Jubodal was formed on 9 July 2024 with Abdul Monyem Munna as president and Nurul Islam Nayan as general secretary. The three-year term of this committee is supposed to run until July 2027, but discussions are ongoing for reorganization in light of political changes. The general secretary has been elected as MP from Bhola-4 on the BNP ticket. Leaders and activists are pressing the high command for new leadership.

The current committee of Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Krishak Dal was formed in 2021 with Hasan Zafire Tuhin as president and Shahidul Islam Babul as general secretary. The three-year term ended in 2024, and the committee is now overdue. Tuhin contested from Pabna-3 and lost to the Jamaat candidate, while Babul won from Faridpur-4 and became an MP. Grassroots workers are demanding new leadership to revive the organization.

The current committee of Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Swecchasebak Dal was formed in September 2022 with SM Zilani as president and Rajib Ahsan as general secretary. The three-year term ended in September 2025. Both leaders are now busy with parliamentary and ministerial duties, leaving little time for the organization. Workers are demanding fresh leadership to bring back dynamism.

The condition of Jatiya Muktiyoddha Dal is described as “pathetic”. The current committee led by Ishthiaq Aziz Ulfat as president and Sadek Ahmed Khan as general secretary started its journey through a council in December 2013. The committee has long exceeded its tenure.

The situation of Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Mohila Dal, led by Afroza Abbas and Sultana Ahmed, is similar. The partial central committee was formed in September 2016 and has been running for nearly 10 years.

Like other wings, the current committee of Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Tati Dal led by Abul Kalam Azad and Haji Mojibur Rahman is also overdue.

BNP sources say the party has decided to address the organizational stagnation. According to the plan, after Eid-ul-Azha, in October-November, before the national council, all overdue committees will be dissolved and new leadership will be elected.

BNP Chairperson and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman recently urged patience from leaders and workers. About a month after becoming Prime Minister, he visited the Nayapaltan central office for the first time and made this appeal to waiting activists outside.

Standing Committee member Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said: “State responsibilities have increased after forming the government. However, once parliamentary activities are in full swing, our priority will be organizational reconstruction. Attention will be given to this soon.”

Party sources indicate that the national council is planned for October or November. After Eid-ul-Azha, initiatives will be taken to reorganize all wings.

Analysts warn that if BNP fails to maintain balance between running the state and strengthening the party organization, it may face a major organizational crisis. Pacifying grassroots anger and restoring the party’s chain of command is now the biggest challenge before the party.