The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has embarked on a nationwide membership renewal initiative, a move aimed at updating its organisational database and reinforcing party ranks ahead of the forthcoming elections.
The process, officially inaugurated by acting chairman Tarique Rahman on 20 January, will be overseen by a dedicated committee, chaired by senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, with treasurer M Rashiduzzaman Millat as the member secretary.
In an interview with BFirst, Rashiduzzaman Millat underscored that membership renewal and recruitment are continuous processes for any political entity.
He noted that BNP’s last membership drive was conducted in 2017 but was hindered thereafter due to the oppressive policies of the previous regime.
“Since the 2018 elections, over 60 lakh of our leaders and activists have faced politically motivated cases, with many subjected to enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. As a result, the party’s activities were severely restricted,” he said.
The renewal process, he explained, will help ascertain the exact number of active members nationwide.
“Some members from 2017 are no longer with us, either due to expulsion or natural causes. The standing committee, under the directive of the acting chairman, has thus initiated this renewal. Each member will contribute a fee of Tk20, which will be allocated for party activities,” Millat added.
However, BNP has opted not to accept new members at this stage, citing concerns over opportunistic infiltration.
“With the collapse of fascism, many are now reinventing themselves as BNP loyalists. There have been instances of extortion and land grabbing falsely attributed to BNP members. To prevent such occurrences, we are renewing only existing memberships, not enrolling new ones,” Millat stated.
He also revealed that between 1,500 and 2,000 individuals have been expelled, warned, or had their memberships temporarily suspended under the acting chairman’s directives.
Regarding the distribution mechanism, Millat detailed that district BNP presidents and general secretaries would collect renewal forms for their respective areas.
Each form will have three copies – one for the member, another for the district unit, and the final copy to be submitted to the central office.
The response to the initiative has been overwhelmingly positive, he claimed.
“The acting chairman was the first to renew his membership, followed by members of the standing committee. This has ignited enthusiasm among grassroots activists. Even young voters—numbering approximately 1.17 crore—who may not yet be BNP members have shown interest in joining the party,” he remarked.
On the question of BNP’s financial transparency, Millat dismissed any parallels with Jamaat-e-Islami’s funding model, asserting that BNP does not require guidance from any other entity.
“BNP remains committed to the principles established by its founding leader. Unlike Jamaat, which has historically sought political alliances for sustenance, BNP’s structure is self-sufficient,” he affirmed.
The party anticipates renewing between 2.5 to 3 crore memberships, generating approximately Tk50 crore, which will be utilised for organisational purposes in the run-up to the elections.
Addressing BNP’s sources of funds, Millat clarified that all financial transactions are conducted through designated banking channels, with strict documentation and oversight.
“Every withdrawal requires joint authorisation by the secretary general and the treasurer. Our accounts are audited annually by a chartered firm and submitted to the Election Commission,” he asserted.
As BNP moves ahead with its membership renewal campaign, the party seeks to consolidate its support base while ensuring financial and organisational discipline.
