UK BNP Adrift: Leadership Vacuum as Top Brass Chase Bangladesh MP Dreams

Reliable sources confirmed that MA Malek, a seasoned two-term President of the UK BNP and a respected advisor to the BNP Chairperson, is a prominent nomination hopeful for the Sylhet-3 constituency, encompassing South Surma, Fenchuganj, and Balaganj. He is reportedly dedicating his days to intensive public relations efforts within Bangladesh. Following the completion of his Hajj pilgrimage alongside his wife, Mr. Malek has communicated to party loyalists his intention to promptly return to Bangladesh and dedicate his full attention to campaigning within his targeted constituency.

Adding to this leadership race, Koysor M Ahmed, the long-serving three-term General Secretary of the UK BNP, holds a significant position as a member of the party's central committee. He is also actively seeking nomination for the Sunamganj-3 constituency, which includes Jagannathpur and Shantiganj, and is currently engaged in public outreach and numerous rallies across Bangladesh.

Given the extensive tenures of both current key leaders and their prior integration into the central committee, there is widespread anticipation that the forthcoming UK BNP committee will usher in a new generation of leadership.

Intriguingly, several prospective candidates vying for leadership roles within the anticipated committee are proactively campaigning through engaging interviews on community Facebook video channels and various other attention-grabbing promotional initiatives. Conversely, a number of aspirants have adopted a more reserved approach. Their rationale hinges on the belief that Tarique Rahman, the acting Chairman of the BNP, who has resided in the UK for over sixteen years, possesses an intimate understanding of the party's landscape. They contend that he is acutely aware of each individual's contributions to the party.

It is noteworthy that the UK BNP has functioned with the same comprehensive 151-member committee for the past seven years. As part of the envisioned process for establishing a new committee, the meticulous vetting of membership forms for zonal committees was finalized last April. However, the highly anticipated announcement of the top five, or "Super Five," candidates from these zonal committees has yet to materialize, leaving many in suspense.

The last UK BNP council convened in 2018, and the two-year mandate of the current committee officially concluded in 2020. Addressing the perplexing five-year delay in forming a new committee, despite the continuous presence of acting Chairman Tarique Rahman in the UK, a senior UK BNP figure suggested that the prolonged inactivity was a consequence of the current committee's unwavering dedication to various movements and struggles. He then posed a pointed question: could the current President and General Secretary have conceivably retained their positions for an unprecedented seven years with a mere two-year mandate had they not effectively demonstrated their unwavering commitment to the party's high command, including Tarique Rahman himself?

Historically, MA Malek assumed the presidency of the UK BNP, and Koysor M Ahmed was reappointed as the General Secretary on May 19, 2015. Preceding this, a committee was established in 2013, with Shayesta Chowdhury Quddus serving as President and Koysor M Ahmed as General Secretary.

Articulating the growing frustration, Atiqur Rahman Chowdhury Pappu, a Vice President of the UK BNP, asserted that the repeated transatlantic journeys of the President and General Secretary to Bangladesh, fueled by their parliamentary ambitions, are demonstrably undermining the party's operational effectiveness. He firmly believes that a simple written delegation of responsibilities during their absence could have injected much-needed dynamism into the party's activities. He further lamented the absence of any significant party programs in the UK since the departure of Madam (Khaleda Zia).

Echoing these concerns, Misbahuzzaman Sohel, a Joint General Secretary of the UK BNP, affirmed that the UK BNP stands as a robust organization outside Bangladesh. He commended its significant role in the anti-Hasina movement, emphasizing the sacrifices made by numerous activists who dedicated their time and efforts, with some facing the painful inability to return to Bangladesh due to fear of legal repercussions. He highlighted the distressing reality that many have been implicated in cases under the draconian Digital Security Act, leading to the severe harassment of their families during investigations. He voiced his earnest hope that those entrusted with the crucial task of selecting the upcoming leadership will duly consider these critical factors and that individuals who were at the forefront of the anti-Hasina movement will be rightfully elevated to leadership positions. Ultimately, he reiterated their unwavering commitment to accepting the final decision of the acting Chairman, Tarique Rahman.

Adding a perspective, Nashir Ahmed Shahin, the President of the UK Secha Sebok Dol, emphasized Tarique Rahman's extensive sixteen-year presence in the UK and his intimate knowledge of the local party dynamics. He confidently stated that Mr. Rahman, who effectively directs the entire party and its political strategies in Bangladesh from his base in the UK, is unequivocally the most qualified individual to determine the future leadership. He further asserted that Mr. Rahman possesses a comprehensive understanding of each member's contributions and can discern those who cultivated business alliances with leaders of the previous Bangladeshi government, both domestically and internationally. Mr. Shahin concluded by expressing his belief that with the leader still residing in the UK, any overt campaigning or vying for positions in the lead-up to the formation of the new committee is somewhat inappropriate. He voiced his strong hope that genuinely dedicated and untainted leaders will ultimately be recognized and valued.

Former Senior Joint Secretary and current Senior Member of the UK BNP, Shahidul Islam Mamun, said that those leaders who have come through Chhatra Dal and have been direct victims of Sheikh Hasina's misrule, it is expected that such dedicated leaders will be valued in the new committee.