Starting on 20 January, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is set to embark on an ambitious membership renewal campaign targeting over one crore members.
The first phase will focus on renewing the membership of long-standing members who have been with the party for 16 years by paying their monthly dues.
After completing the renewals, the party will initiate a new membership recruitment drive prioritising the youth.
This initiative will commence at 4pm from the party’s Gulshan office.
Following this, the Standing Committee members will renew their memberships, with forms subsequently distributed to metropolitan and district levels.
The party aims to build a comprehensive database of its members once the renewals are complete.
Standing Committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku commented that this renewal effort is a significant organisational activity.
He noted that over the past 16 years, many members have faced legal challenges and harassment, and those who have been actively involved in movements and struggles will have their memberships renewed, reinvigorating the party.
Party sources indicate that the monthly subscription for Standing Committee members is set at Tk2,000, while vice chairmen and the chairperson’s advisers are required to pay Tk500.
Joint Secretaries General will pay Tk300, and members at various other levels will renew their memberships by paying their respective monthly fees.
Primary members can renew their memberships by contributing Tk10 annually or any voluntary amount.
However, those with outstanding dues will not be considered for party nominations in the future, as per a firm party decision.
The renewal drive resumes 7.5 years after the last membership campaign, launched by Khaleda Zia during the sixth national council in 2017.
Despite initial momentum, various issues caused the drive to stall.
At that time, about 70 lakh new membership forms were sold within three months at a rate of Tk10 per form.
Multiple BNP leaders have disclosed that the new membership drive will follow the renewal process, especially targeting individuals above the age of 18.
The party’s constitution allows any Bangladeshi citizen aged 18 or above to become a primary member by paying Tk10 for a membership form.
However, the recruitment process will be stringent to avoid enrolling members from other political parties.
BNP claims that a significant portion of the population supports them, particularly the youth interested in politics.
Despite this, no new members have been recruited in the past seven to eight years, leading to a need for renewed efforts at grassroots levels to affirm their association with BNP.
Following the renewal, a thorough database update will include members' photographs, contact information, and political backgrounds.
The party previously faced issues in 2007 when its database was allegedly seized by intelligence agencies during the caretaker government’s tenure.
BNP leader Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal highlighted the importance of including future leaders rather than just voters, particularly giving opportunities to the younger generation.
Media cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan mentioned that the number of BNP members is likely over one crore, and the party anticipates beginning the new membership drive soon.
According to leaders and officials at BNP’s central and Gulshan offices, the party estimates that its organisational structure across districts, municipalities, and wards includes over three crore members.
By counting the committees across the country, BNP has concluded that even with the minimum committee size, their membership exceeds 1.75 crore.
Given these figures, BNP is determined to update and accurately document its membership base, reinforcing its organisational strength amid shifting political landscapes.
