BNP aims to earn Tk. 50 crore by renewing its members

  • Md. Nazrul Islam, Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
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Photo: Barta24

Photo: Barta24

Dhaka: The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has taken the initiative to renew its members in various countries. The party's acting chairman Tarique Rahman officially inaugurated the program on January 20. For this, the BNP's primary membership renewal program committee has been formed with the party's senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi as the convener and treasurer M Rashiduzzaman Millat as the member secretary. M Rashiduzzaman Millat spoke to Barta24.com about the party's primary membership renewal and various economic issues. The interview was conducted by staff reporter Md. Nazrul Islam.

Barta24.com: What is BNP's goal in renewing its members?

বিজ্ঞাপন

M Rashiduzzaman Millat: Primary membership renewal and membership collection are ongoing processes for a party. We collected the last membership in 2017. As you know, the fallen government did not allow us to continue any of our activities. We have repeatedly faced obstacles in keeping our work going. We could not even hold any meetings and processions. In the past, especially since the 2018 elections, cases have been filed against our 6 million leaders and activists, and you know how many cases of disappearances and murders have occurred. In the meantime, we could not carry out our activities. We are now doing the membership renewal because we have excluded, expelled, and many of those who were considered our primary members in 2017. That is why the acting chairman, with the approval of our standing committee, has said that the membership renewal form is for member renewal. Basically, we will understand how many BNP members there are across Bangladesh through this renewal. In this renewal process, a subscription of Tk. 20 has been set for members. Part of the subscription will be spent on our party work.

Barta24.com: Why are you not accepting new members?

বিজ্ঞাপন

M Rashiduzzaman Millat: We are doing the renewal only for those who were previously in the primary membership position. Only those who became members in 2017 will be able to renew. Now we will not take any new members. When it comes to recruiting new members, it will be seen that many of those who have fallen from fascism have also changed their appearance. Starting from the marginalized, everyone is now introducing themselves as BNP leaders, BNP supporters, and members. Some incidents, some extortion, some occupation are being done in the name of BNP. In many cases, we have seen that they are not BNP members at all. We have taken action against those who are BNP members. Our acting chairman has expelled, warned, and temporarily suspended membership of about 1,500 to 2,000 people from the party for various reasons. That is why we will renew members, not recruit them. So that no one can join the party.

Barta24.com: How will you distribute member renewal forms at the grassroots level?

M Rashiduzzaman Millat: Member renewal forms have already started. A committee has been formed for this. The convener of this committee is our Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and I am the member secretary. The district BNP president and general secretary will collect the forms for the entire district from each district. There will be three parts to the renewal form, one copy of which will be with the member, another copy will be in the district, and another copy will be submitted to us.

Barta24.com: How are you getting a response from leaders and activists through the member renewal program?

M Rashiduzzaman Millat: The first member to renew our membership was the outgoing chairman of the party, Tarique Rahman. Then the members of the standing committee. This has encouraged leaders and activists across the country. They are all looking forward to renewing. Through this, enthusiasm and enthusiasm among the people have increased. We think everyone will renew it voluntarily. Many will demand that we be made members. For example, there are 1.17 crore young voters. Many of them may not be our members. They will also be encouraged in this process and later they will also apply. We will present it to the standing committee along with our acting chairman, and if they approve, we will also go through that process.

Barta24.com: How many BNP members are there across the country?

M Rashiduzzaman Millat: I hope that starting from the grassroots, they will renew 2.5 to 3 crore members including ward, union, upazila, district, metropolis, division and other affiliated organizations. This will deposit Tk. 50 crore in our party fund since this money will be used for party work in the upcoming elections, that is why we have taken this step.

Barta24.com: We have learned that Jamaat-e-Islami is run on the money collected from members. Is the BNP also walking the same path?

M Rashiduzzaman Millat: We do not need to follow Jamaat-e-Islami. Rather, they can follow us. BNP is a large party. We are running with the same ideals as the martyred President started this party's activities. Jamaat-e-Islami has relied on different parties at different times. I think their process of recruiting members has been taken from us. In the past, Jamaat-e-Islami's vote was 3 percent, it may have increased to 4/5 percent.

Barta24.com: What is the source of BNP's money?

M Rashiduzzaman Millat: BNP is a party of the people. This money that is being renewed for membership will go to the party fund. Besides, many people donate, which is all recorded. This money comes through specific banking channels. Deposits and withdrawals from the bank are made through checks. When various political programs are held, the party's Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and I, as the treasurer, sign and withdraw the money. We do the work through a clear calculation. For this, we have a CA firm. We audit our accounts through the CPA. We also have our own accounts department. Every year we have to submit our income and expenditure accounts to the Election Commission. We also provide that transparently.