BNP Associate Organisations

Young leaders' future looks bleak

6 July 2009, 17:00 PM

Rakib Hasnet Suman

Appointment of 'aged leadership' in Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) spread fears among the leaders of other front organisations of BNP as they think they would also be deprived of getting fresh blood in the leadership. At least eight associate bodies of the party, including Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal and Mohila Dal, are expecting new committees as the existing committees of these bodies expired long ago. Party insiders said committees of Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal, Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal and Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal might be announced within a couple of days. Besides a number of senior and mid-level leaders, many former student leaders and young ex-lawmakers of the party are trying to bag the top posts of these bodies. The party started reorganising its associate bodies through announcing JCD committees on July 1, but the newly announced committee has created huge criticism from the party men as newly appointed leaders, including president and general secretary, are non-student and controversial. Sources said leaders, workers and supporters of Jubo Dal are also waiting for a fresh committee, but JCD committee made them frustrated as they think the party high command may also impose old leaders on them. “JCD committee is a wrong signal to us as we hoped fresh and leaders with good image will be picked up for front bodies,” said a Jubo Dal leader, adding that wrong leadership will create more problems in the organisations. Talking to The Daily Star, a Mohila Dal leader said young leaders should be appointed, as the new committee has to face huge challenges in the way to reorganise the organisation across the country. Sources, however, said following the JCD committee, a senior woman leader like former state ministers Sarwari Rahman or Selima Rahman might be appointed as president of Mohila Dal. Eight of the 11 associate bodies that pump political lifeblood into the BNP have remained without valid committees for the last two to 12 years as the party ignored democratic practice within itself focusing only the top leadership instead. According to the BNP constitution, the party has 11 front organisations -- JCD, Jubo Dal, Mohila Dal, Muktijoddha Dal, Sramik Dal, Jasas, Krishak Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal, Tanti Dal, Olama Dal and Matsyajibi Dal. The associate bodies of the party which have now valid committees include JCD, Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal and Jatiyatabadi Tanti Dal. According to a party decision, these front bodies will be treated as associated bodies in the party's constitution, which would be approved in next council. The country's existing law does not allow any political party to keep any student organisation.