BNP move for party cohesion loses steam

BNP sources said the ministers' and lawmakers' preoccupation with their own agenda and limited activities in their own constituencies were holding back efforts for greater party cohesion.

The reduced activities by party high-ups have punched a gap between the party and government, they said.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has long been asking her cabinet colleagues and party old guards to involve themselves in vigorous political actions.

"But it seems that the majority of ministers represent their own constituencies only, not the entire country," said a top-ranking BNP leader.

Instructed by the party chief, BNP Secretary General Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan asked all members of the council of ministers and the chief whip and whips on March 17 to meet at party central office and front organisation offices routinely.

The instruction was aimed at increasing the interaction between the ministers and top party officials with the party rank and file.

But the move fell flat in a couple of months as most ministers began to avoid the offices.

BNP sources claimed the formation of new committees at village, ward, union and thana levels added a zest to party politics.

Constitution of the committees was possible due to utmost sincerity of Mannan Bhuiyan and senior Joint Secretary General Tareque Rahman, they said.

But the formation of district committees has yet to be finished, as most party leaders assigned to the tasks sat on their hands.

Only Tareque completed much of the task and formed fresh committees in 12 of 16 districts where 'intra-party conflict' was rife.

Sources said Tareque is now working to resolve conflicts in Gaibandha, Gazipur, Mymensingh (north) and Manikganj and is expected to complete formation of the district committees soon.

They said the party high command decided to form all thana and district committees by August 31 prior to holding the national council by the end of the year.

But there is no sign to work to the schedule, as most of the 75 organisational district committees will not be formed even in next few months.

"I think Tareque Rahman will have to take the responsibility of district committee formation as he succeeded in resolving conflicts in many districts peacefully," said a BNP policymaker.

Other assigned leaders are reluctant to form the committees and waiting for the party high command to ask them to hand over the responsibility to Tareque, he said.