Tarique calls urgent BNP parliamentary meeting today

Prime Minister and Leader of the House Tarique Rahman has called an urgent meeting of the BNP parliamentary party for 6pm today (11 October).

The meeting will take place in the ruling party’s room at the Jatiya Sangsad, although the date of the next parliamentary session has yet to be finalised.

Party discipline, the current political situation, opposition programmes, law and order, constitutional amendments, electricity supply and preparations for Durga Puja are among the issues expected to be discussed. Tarique is also expected to give lawmakers guidance on their responsibilities.

BNP Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni told The Business Standard that the prime minister had called the meeting primarily to discuss contemporary issues.

“An MP from the BNP has resigned. The message behind her resignation and why she resigned will be communicated to lawmakers and others. Jamaat-e-Islami has also organised two long marches, which the BNP believes have no justification. There are also discussions at various levels about Jamaat-e-Islami threatening to shut down remittances. The meeting aims to determine the parliamentary party’s position on these issues,” he said.

On electricity supply, Moni said the situation had improved but required further progress. Initiatives were under way across the country, and the meeting would discuss the role lawmakers should play in improving the situation.

He said the meeting would also address MPs’ responsibilities in maintaining peace and order nationwide during the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations.

Party discipline and allegations under scrutiny

Several senior BNP leaders consider the meeting significant because it has been called outside the party’s regular parliamentary meeting schedule.

They believe the party needs to reinforce discipline among its leaders and activists while clarifying lawmakers’ positions and responsibilities amid recent political developments.

Allegations of land grabbing, extortion and irregularities involving BNP leaders and activists have become a politically sensitive issue for the ruling party.

The latest high-profile incident involved an attack and vandalism at Radda, a private healthcare facility in Mirpur, Dhaka. BNP reserved-seat MP Ferdousi Ahmed, popularly known as Mishti, resigned following the incident. The allegations against her are under investigation.

After the incident, three committees, including the Dhaka Metropolitan North BNP committee, were dissolved. The party also expelled 14 leaders and activists at various levels.

The parliamentary party may give particular attention to action against those accused of exploiting their party identities to engage in irregularities and violence.

Constitutional reform and local elections

Constitutional amendments and implementation of the July National Charter are also expected to feature in discussions.

A special parliamentary committee is working on the matter. On 20 September, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, who chairs the committee, said it aimed to conclude discussions and submit its report to parliament by December.

The meeting may consider lawmakers’ positions and responsibilities regarding constitutional reform proposals, the opposition’s role in parliament and efforts to build political consensus on reforming state institutions.

The upcoming local government elections could present another organisational challenge for the BNP.

Party leaders believe central guidance will be important in selecting local candidates, managing grassroots expectations and grievances, and containing competition among potential contenders following the national election.

Other possible agenda items include keeping organisational activities active after the party assumed power, restructuring committees and enforcing discipline among leaders and activists.

Parliamentary party meetings are generally held one or two days before a parliamentary session begins or while it is under way. This time, however, the meeting has been called before the next session’s date has been finalised.

The next parliamentary session may begin in the second week of November.