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BNP heads for council with its tasks unfinished

15,000 to attend; one-third units fail to hold council; Khaleda collects form for party chairperson polls

Staff Correspondent
Although the BNP is determined to hold its national council on December 8, it is yet to hold about one-third of its grassroots level councils including those in 27 out of 75 organisational districts across the country.
The council being held after 16 years is expected to draw about 15,000 councillors and delegates from all the organisational units of the party’.
To be held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital, this will be BNP's fifth national council.
According to the party constitution, it is supposed to hold national council every two years.
The party started taking preparations in
February for holding the council. But soon afterwards, serious conflicts among the party s factions at various levels cast doubts over a deadline for holding the council within this year.
The conflicts intensified so much that BNP could not hold councils of 27 district units. To resolve the problem, thd party high-ups extended twice the time limit for holding these councils but it did not work.
In addition, a large number of thana, union and ward units did not hold councils timely. Party sources could not even say how many of them did not do so.
Against tins backdrop, the election commis-sion for BNP council-2009 yesterday announced the much awaited schedule for election of party chairperson ahead of the fifth national council
BNP National Standing Committee (NSC) member RA Gani has been made returning officer and former state minister MA Mannan assistant returning officer for the election to beheld on the council day.
The constitution and declaration sub committee formed for the national council headed by party Vice President Tariqul Islam has handed over to Chairperson Khaleda Zia the finalised draft proposals for amendments to the party constitution.
The foreign affairs subcommittee is now working on inviting foreign delegates including a number of internationally renowned political leaders from at least 12 countries, and it might finalise a fist of these personalities today.
Sources said the subcommittee sought about Tk 35 lakh from the party high command for accommodation and entertainment of the foreign guests.
Ihe three-member election commission of the party headed by justice TH Khan a press briefing yesterday morning announced the schedule for election of chairperson at the party's at Naya Paltan central office.
According to the schedule, the last date for submitting nomination papers is today, these will be scrutinised tomorrow and the deadline for withdrawal of nominations is 5;00pm on December 4.
Ihe minimum age of aspirants for the post of chairperson is 30.
Nomination papers free of cost could be collected from and submined to the returning officer or his nominated representative at the party central office from 11 am to 6 pm.
Replying to a question about election schedule for other office bearers of the party's central executive committee including secretary general, TH Khan said there is no such provision in the existing party constitution.
He however said inclusion of such provisions in the party's draft amended constitution is in process but the councillors will decide on this.
iUn, Election Commission members Abdur Razzak Khan and Sanaullah Mia, assistant return -ing officer MA Mannan and party's Office Secretary Rizvi Ahmed were present at the press briefing.
Later in the evening, Khaleda Zia collected nomination papers for election of party
chairperson. On behalf of her, Rizvi Ahmed took the nomination papers from Mannan.
At a separate press briefing at the party office, Rizvi said they have completed councils of 70 percent party units across the country.
"Forty-eight district units successfully held councils, and conveners and first joint conveners of the remaining units will attend the national council as councillors," he said.
None will represent Dhaka city unit as there is no committee for this unit now, he added.
But the existing committees of Manlkganj and Dhaka districts will represent the units at the national council.
Earlier, the party had announced convening committees for 72 of the 75 organisa -tional districts.
Rizvi said 2,512 councillors and 12,000 delegates will attend the council.
Forty party leaders from each of the 300 parliamentary constituencies will be invited as delegates to the council, he mentioned.
According to the BNP constitution [amended till Augustl6, 2009], president and general secretary of each upzila/thana unit, municipality unit, district unit and city unit will be councillors, and each district and city unit will nominate two female members as councillors.
Members of the party's parliamentary party, national executive committee, national standing committee, and additional 10 percent nominated by the chairperson will be treated as councillors.
Rizvi said amendments are being made so that conveners and joint conveners of the units which have failed to hold councils can attend the national council. There is no provision in the existing constitution that allows them to be treated as councillors.
Meanwhile, reception and refreshment sub-committee Convener Sadeque Hossain Khoka said yesterday said they have completed preparations for the council. ■
And Mirza Abbas, convener of management subcommittee, already announced that they have solved venue-related problems, and the council will be held at the international conference centre.