BNP rolls out roadmap to elect its top leadership

Ahead of its Sixth National Council, the BNP has announced the electoral roadmap to choose its top two leaders.

The party will hold election to the post of chairperson and senior vice-chairperson during the council slated for Mar 19, said election commissioner Muhammad Jamiruddin Sircar.

Last month, the party amended its charter to make provision for holding balloting to the post of senior vice-chairperson.

But the charter has provision for selecting its chairperson through an election.

At a media briefing on Monday, the party said the nomination form can be collected from its Naya Paltan headquarters until Mar 2 and the deadline for submitting it is Mar 4.

The nominations will be screened on Mar 5 and aspirants will be able to withdraw those by Mar 6, said Sircar.

“Aspirants for the posts of chairperson and senior vice-chairperson can collect, submit, or withdraw nominations themselves or through nominated agents. They can also attend the vote counting,” said the member of National Standing Committee.

One has to be at least 30 years of age and a registered paying member to run for election, he added.

During its last council in 2009, Khaleda Zia was re-elected to lead the party.

It had also then elevated her son Tarique Rahman to a newly created post of senior vice-chairperson.

Tarique has been living in London for the last eight years after he was released on parole when the military-installed caretaker government was in power. He now faces arrest in several cases.

He had addressed BNP’s last council through video conference from the UK.

According to the rules announced on Monday, Tarique will have to complete the formalities through a nominated agent if he decides not to come back.