Putting its anti-government movement on hold, the BNP now plans a major overhaul to strengthen the organisation.

In the wake of its failure to resist the January 5 election, the party aims to hold councils to inject fresh blood into its different tiers and minimise internal feuds before waging a fresh movement against Sheikh Hasina's new government, which it considers illegal.

The councils, from upazila level upwards, are likely to be held in March and April, party sources said.

"The councils have already been delayed by at least two years. We have decided in principle to hold the councils although the dates are yet to be finalised. Our chairperson and the party's highest forum (standing committee] will take the final decision," Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, a BNP standing committee member, told The Daily Star.

Party insiders said through the national

council, the BNP is likely to bring structural changes in its standing committee and other committees and pick its secretary general.

Preparations will begin once their top leaders are released from jail, they added.

Fifteen central leaders of the BNP, including three standing committee members and two organising secretaries, are now behind bars in different cases filed in connection with violence during hartals and blockades in November and December.

Meanwhile, the party, which boycotted the 10th parliamentary polls and ended up having no representation in parliament for the first time since 1991, expects a landslide win for the candidates it would back in the upcoming upazila parishad elections beginning this month.

Once it comes out victorious in the upazila polls like it did in the five city corporation elections last year, the BNP will go for a vigorous movement and force the government to call a midterm election, sources said. Before waging the movement, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and other top brass of the party will also visit different parts of the country to mobilise public support in favour of their demand.

Mahbubur Rahman said through these visits will give the party grassroots new directions and spur them to forge a peaceful movement to “restore democracy in the country".

"The council will also give us a scope to examine our previous actions and correct the past mistakes that may have been made," he added.

Insiders, however, said the party fears that infighting might take hold like it did before the last central council in 2009.

Intra-party feuds and conflicts had marred a number of councils of the grassroots committees of the BNP.

Leaders and activists hope the tested and dedicated people will be evaluated and picked for different important posts through the councils this time.