BNP’s grassroot rivalries rear heads ahead of local polls
BNP Faces Grassroots Pressures as Local Elections and National Council Draw Near
Thebangladaily.com – Bangladesh Nationalist Party leaders are confronting growing tensions within the organisation as preparations gather pace for local government elections and the party’s long-delayed national council. Rivalry over electoral ambitions, demands for leadership roles and disciplinary concerns are creating a difficult balancing act for a party that returned to government this year after a lengthy period out of power.
The central leadership must now manage state responsibilities while rebuilding organisational structures that have remained incomplete or have passed their scheduled terms. At district and grassroots levels, many newer leaders see an opening for promotion, while established figures seek to retain influence. These overlapping ambitions have intensified competition in several parts of the country.
Competition for chairman positions
Interest in local government contests is already visible. In Ganipur Union under Bagmara Upazila in Rajshahi, at least six BNP leaders and supporters have begun campaigning for the union chairman position. Rampal Union in Munshiganj has seen at least seven figures from the party express similar interest.
Comparable contests are emerging elsewhere, highlighting the challenge for a large party whose local activists often have their own networks and political priorities. The issue is particularly sensitive because the local polls will not use party symbols. Multiple BNP-linked candidates may therefore enter the same race independently, risking a split in support among voters who identify with the party.
Selima Rahman, a member of the BNP Standing Committee, said it was normal for more than one leader from a major political organisation to seek election.
“It is perfectly natural for several leaders within a party to want to participate in elections; you cannot stop anyone from doing so,” she said.
She expressed the view that the number of aspirants would narrow as voting day approaches. Rahman said the party plans to establish a coordination committee before the election in an effort to address disputes and strengthen cooperation among local leaders and activists.
Unfinished organisational reform
The party’s internal “one leader, one post” principle has also returned to the forefront. The policy was written into the BNP constitution nearly 10 years ago, yet it has not been fully applied. A number of leaders at central and district levels still occupy more than one organisational role.
For junior and mid-level activists, that arrangement has become a source of frustration. Many believe senior figures holding several offices reduce opportunities for others to move into leadership. The issue goes beyond titles: committee posts can shape local decision-making, access to party networks and influence over future political campaigns.
The next national council is expected to add further momentum to the struggle for positions. BNP last held its national council on March 19, 2016, despite a constitutional requirement to convene one every three years. As attention shifts toward the coming council, the party is working to reorganise committees at several levels and fill vacancies that have accumulated over time.
Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has said the BNP is considering elevating the next-ranking leaders within relevant committees when posts become empty because of deaths, expulsions or other causes. He indicated that this would be done under organisational rules.
Discipline and allegations of misuse of influence
Leadership competition has unfolded alongside allegations that some individuals have used the BNP’s name or political influence for extortion. The party has responded with disciplinary measures against more than 7,000 leaders and activists accused of breaching internal discipline. Expulsion and demotion have been among the actions used as the BNP seeks to demonstrate a firm position against corruption and extortion.
The scale of those measures illustrates the difficulty of restoring discipline during a period of rapid political change. A party entering government after years outside power must deal not only with electoral expectations, but also with people attempting to gain influence through association with it. How consistently disciplinary action is enforced may affect the confidence of grassroots workers as well as the public perception of the party.
Rahman said Bangladesh had undergone what she called “moral degradation” in politics during the past 17 years. She argued that corruption and wealth accumulation under the previous political system, which she described as fascist, had encouraged the belief among grassroots activists in other parties that politics could be used to make money.
She said the BNP wants to move away from that culture and build a more people-focused political approach. Programmes are being arranged for party members and activists with that aim in mind. Workshops on the BNP’s 31-point agenda are also being conducted for grassroots activists ahead of the election.
Two contests at once
For the BNP, the local polls and national council are not separate tests. They involve many of the same people, local alliances and disputes. A leader competing for a union chairman role may also seek a committee position, while supporters of rival candidates may later have to work together in national or district party structures.
That overlap makes coordination especially important. If the party can manage local rivalries through consultation, transparent decisions and organisational rules, it may be able to turn heightened interest in leadership into stronger grassroots activity. If disputes remain unresolved, contests without party symbols could deepen divisions and weaken cohesion at a critical moment.
The coming months will show whether the BNP can combine its effort to govern with an equally demanding task: renewing an organisation whose members are eager for representation, responsibility and a greater role in the party’s future.
Related Reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What is BNP s grassroot rivalries rear heads?BNP s grassroot rivalries rear heads is the main topic of this guide. The article explains the context, practical details, and next steps readers should understand.
Why does BNP s grassroot rivalries rear heads matter?BNP s grassroot rivalries rear heads matters because readers are looking for a useful answer, not just a short summary. Good content should match search intent and help them decide what to do next.