BNP moves to fill vacant posts in party committees: Rizvi

The BNP has moved to fill vacant posts in its committees at different levels following deaths, expulsions, and other reasons.

Under the party constitution, the BNP will consider promoting leaders serving in the positions immediately below the vacant posts in the respective committees.

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The party has also announced the schedule for selecting its candidate for the by-election to the Thakurgaon-1 parliamentary seat that fell vacant after former BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir became Bangladesh president.

BNP acting secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi disclosed the decisions while talking to reporters after a meeting of BNP’s National Standing Committee at the party’s chairman's office in Gulshan today.

Rizvi said, “For those vacant posts, we will see whether the people (party leaders) who are immediately below them can be promoted according to the rules of the party constitution. Steps will be taken according to those rules.”

“At the district and upazila levels, many party leaders have died. So, this is about filling those vacant posts,” he added.

Nomination for Thakurgaon-1 seat on September 18

The Thakurgaon-1 by-election is scheduled for October 29. The seat fell vacant after Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir became president.

Rizvi announced that nomination aspirants will be able to collect party nomination forms from the BNP central office in Nayapaltan on September 15. The completed forms must be submitted the following day.

The BNP nomination board will meet on the evening of September 18 to select the party’s final candidate for the seat, he said, adding that the party’s National Standing Committee will serve as the nomination board.

BNP to distribute dengue awareness leaflets

The standing committee meeting also discussed the dengue situation and measures to prevent the spread of the mosquito-borne disease.

Rizvi said the meeting reviewed government initiatives against dengue, including plans to supply mosquito nets to hospitals at the district and upazila levels.

As part of its own campaign, the BNP will distribute dengue awareness leaflets in Dhaka and across the country, Rizvi said, adding the leaflets would be prepared with input from leading doctors and specialists.

The party will also take initiatives to promote the awareness programmes through social media, radio and television.

The meeting discussed the prime minister’s call to involve Scouts, Girl Guides, other volunteer organisations and students in awareness activities.

The standing committee stressed the need for adequate waste bins at schools, colleges, madrasas and marketplaces and called on the authorities and managing committees of those institutions to take necessary steps.

BNP leaders and activists at the local level will also work to raise awareness and encourage the authorities concerned to ensure proper waste disposal and keep their premises clean.