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BNP likely to lean on the young for comeback

Rashidul Hasan
The BNP high command plans to have young, honest and competent leaders at the helm at different levels to rejuvenate the rank and file still reeling from the trouncing in the December 29 general election.
Many incumbent standing committee members and controversial leaders of the central committee might be left out of the 'new BNP', said sources close to the party chief.
Some of the old guard, who are not accused of graft, might be given place in the chairperson's advisory council, added the sources.
The party high-ups are also weighing the possibility of a change in the secretary general's post.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Thursday dropped some hints about changes in some top positions including secretary general.
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"The [party] overhaul will start soon and will apply to every tier,” she told reporters at her Gulshan office.
The efforts to rebuild BNP and shake off die taint of corruption might culminate in a national council in April or May. The last time BNP had a council was around 15 years back, said insiders.
Over the years, almost all committees down to the grassroots level have become largely ineffective, and this, political observers say, was one of the reasons for the huge polls defeat.
"We are working to organise the national council within the next three to four months. Before that, we will hold councils at different levels to reconstitute the local committees," an aide to the BNP chief told The Daily Star.
Mostly young, honest and dedicated leaders will be given the responsibility to steer the party out of troubled waters.
Of 11 standing committee members that BNP has at present, Khandaker Mahbubuddin is 84 years old, RA Ghani 78, M Saifur Rahman 77, M Shamsul Islam 77, Moudud Ahmed 70 and Matin Chowdhury 69.
RA Ghani, Saifur and Matin Chowdhury have long been
suffering from old age complications.
To fill vacuum, a good number of leaders from the grassroots level might be picked for the central committee. In that case, dedication and loyalty to the organisation would be the yardstick
Khaleda Zia plans to attend around half the councils at the grassroots level to perk up the morale of local leadership, said party sources.
Meanwhile, a few senior leaders said they are not sure how much the revamp move would work as many leaders with 'bad image' still hold sway.
However, a leader close to the BNP chief said since Khaleda Zia herself favours radical changes in the party, there should not be much problem.
BNP policymakers want the party to start choosing prospective candidates for the next parliamentary election from now.
They argue this would give the candidates enough time to reorganise the party and its associate organisations in their constituencies.
Many leaders tainted by graft and crime allegations were allowed to contest the December 29 election, and as feared they fared terribly
against those of Awami League-led grand alliance.
As part of the makeover plans, BNP will also recast its associate bodies.
Nine of the 11 associate bodies have remained without valid committees for up to 12 years.
Even if it was not for rebuilding itself, BNP will have to hold national council within six months after the first sitting of the ninth parliament to ratify the provisional changes it made to its constitution to be registered with the Election Commission.
The last national council was held in 1993 and Khaleda Zia was elected chairperson. Though her term ended in 1995, she continued in the post without being re-elected till 1997.
In the face of severe criticism that year, the party initiated steps to hold a council to elect its helmsman. The then standing committee member Abdul SalamTalukder was tasked with conducting the election.
But as none had filed candidature against her, Khaleda became the party chief, obviating the need for a council.
The two-year term expired in 1999, and since then there has not been any move to hold election to the chairperson's post.