BNP finally announced its full-fledged executive and standing committees on Saturday, over four and a half months after its national council held on March 19. On behalf of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the 502- member executive and 19 member standing committees at a press briefing at BNP’s Nayaplatan central office. However, two posts -17th and 18th number positions in the BNP policymaking body– and four posts — youth affairs secretary, its assistant secretary, student affairs secretary its assistant secretary— in the executive committee will be announced later. BNP chairperson’s 73-member advisory council was also announced. Mirza Fakhrul, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and Salahuddin Ahmed, now facing trial in India, got a berth in the standing committee. Besides, 113 new faces were co-opted in the executive committee. At the BNP national council held in the city, party councillors endorsed Khaleda Zia as party chairperson and her son Tarique Rahman as senior vice chairman. They also entrusted Khaleda with the responsibility to constitute the party executive committee and stranding committee. Earlier, the party unveiled the names for 42 posts, including that for secretary-general, senior joint secretary-general, treasurer, joint secretaries general, organising secretaries and assistant organising secretaries. However, some changes were brought in the earlier declared posts. Khaleda Zia is the number one member of the standing committee while her eldest son and senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman the second one. The 15 other names of the standing committee are Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, Jamiruddin Sircar, Tariqul Islam, Mahbubur Rahman, ASM Hannan Shah, MK Anwar, Rafiqul Islam Miah, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and Salahuddin Ahmed. Of the previous committee members, 14 were kept in the fresh one while two —Shamsul Islam and Sarwari Rahman — were dropped. Two others — Khandaker Delwar Hossain and Dr RA Gani — died, while Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury was executed on charge of committing crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War. Shamsul Islam and Sarwari Rahman were dropped as they have long been suffering from old-age complications. Sarwari is now number one member of the BNP chairperson’s advisory council. — Dhaka, Aug 6 (UNB)
