Reza Mahmud :
The BNP high command is thinking of Dr. Zubaida Rahman, wife of party’s senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman, as the party’s new leader in case of imprisonment of party chief Khaleda Zia. Some senior leaders of the party have also reached a consensus about the issue and asked Zubaida Rahman to get herself prepared, sources said. “Khaleda Zia is also considering Dr. Zubaida as crisis moment leader when some senior leaders are reportedly working against the party interests. The high command conceives that she has craftsmanship capacity and will be able to bring the party out of storm” said one of the senior leaders of BNP.
Sources said, Zubaida Rahman herself is taking preparation to take the position of BNP’s crisis moment’s acting chairperson. She is studying the political development of Bangladesh, India and Pakistan and the geo-politics. She also is watching the country’s political situation closely. The think-tank also is giving her guidelines in this respect.
Her mother-in-law has given some important advice to Zubaida for taking over the party leadership in future. Sources said that Khaleda has been analyzing the country’s political situation deeply.
Few other leaders of the party said preferring anonymity that Zubaida Rahman may be picked up as the party chairperson’s health advisor, equivalent to the party’s vice-chairman post, according to the party’s constitution.
Some of the leaders said on condition of anonymity that the high command thinks the government may imprison Begum Khaleda Zia soon. In this situation, hectic efforts are going on to save the party from disintegration.
A senior standing committee member has meanwhile asked the party chief to form the full committee before it is too late. BNP men in different tiers think that the party chief may be convicted in two cases. If it is, the party may face serious leadership crisis.
The apprehension deepens following conspiracy against the party interests by some senior leaders. In that situation, the grassroots level leaders and activists may revolt. So, the party high command takes up Zubaida as an alternative leadership.
When asked BNP standing committee member Brigadier General ASM Hannan Shah told The New Nation, “The party chief reserves the right to choose any one in the committee.
BNP Joint-Secretary General Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal told The New Nation, “Dr. Zubaida Rahman has clean image. The leaders and the activists of the party will accept her most.”
