Changes may come in BNP and the government

Four new faces have been inducted into the BNP’s National Standing Committee, while a new party secretary general and changes to the cabinet are expected after August 20, according to several party sources. Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Mr. Tarique Rahman had set a 180-day target for cabinet members after the BNP government took office. As the deadline approaches, speculation is growing that the cabinet will be reshuffled based on the prime minister’s assessment.

The issue has gained further importance after BNP Secretary General Mr. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was nominated as the party’s candidate for president. Mr. Fakhrul, who also served as a Standing Committee member and local government, rural development and cooperatives minister, has resigned from his party posts.

Four leaders were inducted into the 19-member Standing Committee on Saturday: Senior Joint Secretary General Mr. Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Chairman’s Advisory Council member Mr. Aman Ullah Aman, Prof. Dr Farhad Halim Donar and Mr. Md Ismail Zabiullah. The party said the appointments were made to increase organisational dynamism. Mr. Rizvi has long served as BNP senior joint secretary general and previously led the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and Jatiyatabadi Swechhasebak Dal. Mr. Aman is a former DUCSU vice-president and has held several senior BNP posts. Prof. Dr Donar is a prominent paediatrician and president of the Doctors Association of Bangladesh, while Mr. Zabiullah is currently the prime minister’s adviser on public administration. With the four new appointments, the Standing Committee now has 16 members.

Who will be the new secretary general?

Following Mr. Fakhrul’s resignation, speculation is mounting over his successor. Mr. Rizvi is considered a leading contender because of his role in the party’s prolonged political struggles. Other names under discussion include Standing Committee member and Home Minister Mr. Salahuddin Ahmed, Chairman’s Adviser Mr. Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, and Joint Secretaries General Mr. Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel and Mr. Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anny.

BNP Vice-Chairman Mr. Shamsuzzaman Dudu said an acting secretary general could be appointed until the next party council. “According to our party constitution, normally the party chairman nominates the secretary general, and the council later approves the appointment,” he said. “Since there is no council now, whoever the chairman nominates will serve as secretary general until the next council.” Party sources said the final decision will rest with Mr. Tarique Rahman, with factors including political struggle, commitment to the party, loyalty to the Zia family and relations with party activists likely to be considered.

Cabinet reshuffle likely

Changes are also expected in the government. Mr. Tarique Rahman had set a 180-day performance target for ministers and ordered their performance to be assessed afterward. Reports on the ministers’ performance have already been submitted to him. Mr. Fakhrul’s nomination for president has created a vacancy in the local government, rural development and cooperatives ministry. There is speculation that Home Minister Mr. Salahuddin Ahmed could be moved to that ministry, while Water Resources Minister Mr. Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anny could take charge of the Home Ministry.

Several other names are also being discussed for ministerial and state ministerial positions, including Mr. Rakibul Islam Bakul, Mr. Gias Uddin Rimon, Mr. Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Ms. Selima Rahman and several other BNP and alliance leaders. However, the final decision will depend entirely on Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman.