BNP has dissolved its committee on foreign affairs with the process to form a new panel is set to initiate within next week, say party insiders.

In a letter issued on Jan 17, the party’s Senior Joint Secretary General informed the party’s decision to dissolve the committee aiming to form a new one, said Tabith Awal, who is a member of the committee.

A number of other members in the committee told Bangla Tribune that the process of dissolving the committee expedited after its Convener Inam Ahmed Chowdhury left the party to join the Awami League.

Former foreign secretary, Riaz Rahman’s name is being discussed for the post of convener in the new committee. Most of the committee members want to see him as the convener given he is willing to take up the role.

The letter, officially announcing the dissolving of the committee reads, “BNP committee on Foreign Affairs has been dissolved upon the party’s directive. The process of forming a new committee will begin within the next week.”  

The letter also told members of the old committee to discuss with the Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury should they have any issue to be raised on the foreign affairs panel.

Dr Asaduzzaman Ripon, a member of the committee told Bangla Tribune late on Monday that the committee needed reshuffling.

According to members of the committee, the new committee will be small in size.

They have already discussed the matter with the acting chief of the party Tarique Rahman, who is in self-imposed exile in London for over a decade.

Asked on the matter, BNP chief’s media wing member Shairul Kabir Khan told Bangla Tribune, “We don’t know anything about it.”