BNP’s ‘one leader, one post’ only on paper

The ruling BNP is yet to implement its “one leader, one post” provision a decade after incorporating it into its charter to widen leadership opportunities and strengthen accountability, leaving junior leaders frustrated with their lack of progression through the ranks.

The issue has drawn attention since the BNP returned to power and a section of leaders who already hold two party posts are serving in government roles.

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The provision, which was inserted into the BNP’s constitution at its sixth national council on March 19, 2016, restricts the simultaneous holding of key posts at different levels of the party.

At least two dozen leaders hold multiple organisational posts at both the central and district levels, even as the BNP leadership is trying to reorganise the party after the national election in February.

Take the case of Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anne, who serves as the joint secretary general of the BNP as well as the convenor of the Lakshmipur district unit.

Asadul Habib Dulu serves as a central organising secretary and president of Lalmonirhat district BNP. Khairul Kabir Khokon is the joint secretary general of BNP as well as the president of the Narsingdi district unit.

The BNP charter says no person can be elected as the president or general secretary of the district, metropolitan, upazila, thana, municipality, union or ward committee of the party at the same time.

It also bars members of the Standing Committee and the chairman’s advisory council, office-bearers of the National Executive Committee, any president of the party’s organ, and leaders of associate and affiliated bodies from holding certain additional organisational posts.

The party could not fully implement what it states in the constitution as many leaders were in jail or hiding, facing cases or being persecuted by the Awami League government, said Syed Emran Saleh Prince, joint secretary general of the BNP.

“Given that the political situation has changed, the party may have the opportunity to implement it,” he added.

But grassroots leaders are becoming increasingly frustrated by the lack of opportunity to rise through the ranks, The Daily Star has learnt from discussions with three dozen leaders of the party and its affiliated bodies.

If one person holds on to two or three influential positions, the others have little opportunity to move up, said a BNP leader at the central level asking not to be named to speak candidly on the issue.

It would have been better if the provision had been implemented, as many capable leaders would have gotten posts, said Kushtia BNP Member Secretary Zakir Hossain Sarkar.

“I fully support the policy -- it allows dedicated party leaders and activists to get party posts, or else they would get nothing,” said Dulal Fakir, president of Chandipur Union BNP in Zianagar upazila of Pirojpur.

The policy creates opportunities for new leadership by allowing different leaders to take responsibility in different units, said Mahfuz Iqbal, general secretary of Chhatra Dal’s Dhaka North District unit.

“The party now has a much larger pool of experienced leaders -- there is no reason for the same people to continue holding several posts,” said another BNP leader from a Munshiganj unit.

Implementing the policy would reduce internal frustration and help bring more capable people into leadership, he said.

Meanwhile, a section of leaders are implementing the provision.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir himself stepped down from two posts after becoming secretary general. Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal relinquished his post as Jubo Dal president after becoming a BNP joint secretary general.

By December 2016, 44 of around 60 leaders identified as holding multiple posts had relinquished one of them. But the process soon lost momentum, with a number of influential leaders retaining more than one position.

Tarique Rahman later tried to revive the policy after the 2018 general election, when he was serving as the party’s acting chairman. That attempt also failed to produce full implementation.

“When one leader occupies several organisational posts, fewer positions remain available for other experienced or emerging leaders, which can negatively affect the party,” said a standing committee member, seeking anonymity.