BNP’s first extended meeting in seven years: Khaleda Zia to speak virtually from London

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is holding its first extended meeting in seven years, a significant moment for the party.

The meeting began Thursday morning at the LD Hall premises of the National Parliament. 

This year’s event has drawn attention as BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia will address the gathering virtually from London, delivering her speech as the chief guest.

The BNP’s Acting Chairman, Tarique Rahman, also joined the meeting virtually from abroad. Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has already started his speech, and several central leaders are expected to follow him throughout the day.

This extended meeting marks a key moment for the BNP, as it provides a platform for discussions on several crucial topics. 

The meeting’s focus is not only on gathering opinions from the grassroots level but also on formulating organizational strategies that could position the party for the upcoming national elections. 

Party insiders suggest that this gathering may set the tone for BNP‍‍`s electoral roadmap.

Significantly, the last time the BNP held such an extended meeting was on February 3, 2018, during a politically tense period when many party members feared arrests. 

Despite this, around 80 percent of the party‍‍`s executive committee members, including Chairperson Khaleda Zia, attended that meeting in Dhaka at La Meridien Hotel.

This time around, however, the political climate has shifted, allowing for a more open and relaxed environment. 

High-profile attendees at today’s meeting include standing committee members, vice-chairpersons, advisers, and presidents and general secretaries of the BNP’s various district, city, thana, and upazila units. 

Candidates from the last election, as well as leaders from affiliated and associate organizations, are also taking part.

Four major issues are expected to dominate the discussions at this extended meeting. 

In addition to addressing the upcoming national parliamentary elections, the agenda includes examining the political situation since August 5, maintaining internal party discipline, and reviewing relationships with the party’s allies. 

According to the leaders, decisions on future strategies will be made based on feedback from grassroots representatives.

This extended meeting, scheduled to continue from morning until late into the night, is the first of its kind on such a large scale since 1997.

An estimated four thousand leaders from across the country are participating, adding to the significance of the event for the BNP’s future planning.

This extended meeting could have a profound impact on the party‍‍`s future strategies, as grassroots voices will play a crucial role in shaping BNP‍‍`s course of action in the coming days.