To implement the political policy of the party, BNP has taken an initiative to form a special political committee. Also, the existing Foreign Affairs Committee is being revamped.

This was informed by several persons from BNP’s standing committee. At the order of acting party chairman, Tarique Rahman, the existing foreign affairs committee was dissolved on Jan 7. The new committee to be formed will have several international desks covering important regions of the world.

BNP Standing Committee Member Barrister Moudud Ahmed said, “I cannot talk of two committees; the foreign affairs committee has been dissolved and we have decided to form a new one.”

Two BNP leaders who work with the party’s foreign policy said that the foreign affairs committee will be overhauled.

The party is looking for a senior former diplomat to act as the chairman of the committee. Those who served as diplomats during BNP’s tenure are being given preference.

The name of former foreign secretary, Reaz Rahman, is being heard with Tabith Awal as a committee member.

But Tabith Awal has refuted such a belief.

The new AFC committee will have several desks on USA, Europe, Middle-East, Africa and South Asia. Former secretary of the foreign affairs committee, Dr Asaduzzaman, said, “Our work is ongoing but there hasn’t been any notable progress as yet.”

People with diplomatic profiles are being selected for the foreign affairs committee, say BNP insiders.

The party has also taken a decision for a political committee to ease the internal work of the party though the name for this body has not been finalised as yet.

One party member has said that the issues of the new committees may be discussed in the next standing committee meet. It’s believed that incarcerated BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia had given a guideline about the proposed committees.

BNP Standing Committee Member Jamiruddin Sircar says, “The committees will be formed as per the requirements of the party and all will be clear when some time passes.”