If Mirza Fakhrul becomes president, Rizvi to be BNP acting secretary general
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi
Bangladesh Nationalist Party Secretary General and Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is set to become the country’s next president. This is now almost certain. The reason is that his name is at number one on the BNP’s list for the presidency.
According to a source at the party’s policymaking level, BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has finalized Mirza Fakhrul’s nomination for the presidency. If nominated by the BNP, Mirza Fakhrul will become the country’s 23rd president due to the party’s majority in the Jatiya Sangsad.
Meanwhile, as the possibility of Mirza Fakhrul becoming president becomes clearer, the question of who will become the BNP’s next secretary general is also coming to the forefront. If Mirza Fakhrul becomes president, BNP’s constitution stipulates that Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi will become the party’s acting secretary general. Later, the party’s new secretary general will be elected through the national council.
Current BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam was elected the party’s Senior Joint Secretary General through its fifth national council held in 2009. On March 16, 2011, then Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain died. Following his death, Mirza Fakhrul took charge as the party’s acting secretary general as the Senior Joint Secretary General.
Later, Mirza Fakhrul was elected BNP secretary general through the party’s sixth national council in 2016. He has continued to perform this responsibility for more than a decade as a ‘vigilant guardian’ during periods of crisis, struggle and leadership. Mirza Fakhrul is currently also serving as the minister of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives.
Political analysts say that if Mirza Fakhrul is elected president, several organizational changes will have to be made in both the party and the government. In that case, he will have to leave his responsibility as the minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives. At the same time, new leadership will have to be brought in for the post of BNP secretary general. Under the Constitution, his Thakurgaon 1 constituency will also become vacant once he assumes office as president. As a result, a by election will be required in that constituency.
Although the date and time have not yet been finalized, the ruling BNP has begun preparations for its seventh national council with December of this year in mind. Through this council, BNP will elect a new secretary general. This is because, whether or not Mirza Fakhrul becomes president, he does not want to remain in the party’s second highest and important organizational position again due to his physical illness and age.
Mirza Fakhrul himself recently said, “I am very tired. I have to remain until the next council. I want to retire after the council. I have become quite old and I am becoming ill.”
So, who will become BNP’s next secretary general? That question is now being raised more strongly. An inquiry within the party has revealed that three names are broadly being discussed as candidates for BNP’s eighth secretary general.
They are Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed, Professor Dr. A Z M Zahid Hossain and Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
All three have been given important responsibilities in the current government. Salahuddin Ahmed is serving as home minister, Dr. A Z M Zahid Hossain is in charge of the Ministry of Social Welfare and the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, while Ruhul Kabir Rizvi is serving as the prime minister’s political and industrial affairs adviser with the rank of a minister.
Among the three potential candidates, Salahuddin Ahmed’s name is being discussed the most. His influence at the party’s policymaking level and his reputation as a close associate of Tarique Rahman have placed him at the center of the discussion. As an important member of the National Standing Committee, he has long played a role in formulating various strategic decisions of the party.
However, there is also discussion within the BNP that if Salahuddin Ahmed becomes the party’s secretary general, he may be removed from the Home Ministry and given responsibility for another ministry. Political analysts believe that it would be quite difficult for one person to simultaneously perform the responsibilities of BNP secretary general and head of such an important ministry as the Home Ministry. This is because, with BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman serving as prime minister, the party’s secretary general will now have to devote more attention and time to organizational matters.
On the other hand, BNP leaders consider Professor Dr. A Z M Zahid Hossain an organizer. He played an important role in successfully implementing various political programs, divisional rallies and organizational activities, particularly during the Awami League government. He also has acceptance at the grassroots level. As he remained constantly devoted to providing medical care to the late Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, he is also a trusted companion of the Zia family.
Party leaders and activists mostly view Ruhul Kabir Rizvi as a ‘dedicated leader.’ His active presence on the streets during prolonged movements and struggles, his handling of cases and attacks, and his firm position during the party’s difficult times have made him particularly popular among party leaders and activists. However, Rizvi did not contest the election and was not included in the cabinet either.
However, those concerned believe that the name of another leader could ultimately emerge apart from these three.
