Cabinet expansion a ploy to remain in power for long

The BNP believes that the cabinet expansion is an attempt of this interim government to prolong its stay in power. Considering this, the party plans to beef up its street programmes to put pressure on the government to call for elections, said party leaders.

The issue of making the cabinet larger was discussed in the standing committee meeting, the highest policymaking body of the party, held at its Gulshan office on Monday night.

At the beginning of the meeting, a standing committee member raised the issues of expansion and the Interim Government Ordinance 2024.

The BNP leaders discussed the draft ordinance that specifies that the caretaker administration will remain in power until the 13th parliamentary election is held and a new prime minister takes charge, with no fixed term outlined. Questions cannot be raised over the appointments of the chief adviser and other advisers as per the draft ordinance.

Party leaders in the meeting said that such a draft was expected but some members expressed concerns about the lack of clarity on the specific number of advisers in the interim government. Regarding the appointments of three new advisers, BNP leaders said that as questions were raised from different quarters about the appointments of two advisers, the party must move cautiously.

If they were appointed after proper scrutiny, controversy could have been averted, said a standing committee member, wishing not to be named.

Earlier, the BNP expressed reservations about another adviser, Ali Imam Majumdar. The interim government appointed renowned filmmaker Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, AkijBashir Group Managing Director Sk Bashir Uddin, and special assistant to chief adviser Mahfuj Alam as advisers to the interim government on Sunday.

The chief adviser also reassigned some advisers and appointed three special assistants who would be of the rank of state ministers.

Party leaders decided that they must put pressure on the government over the election and would hold 10 rallies in different organisational divisions of the party, said meeting sources.

“We have to hold big rallies that will exert pressure on the government and then the interim government will go for elections. Otherwise, the government won’t do it,” said another leader.

The party will organise a rally on December 16 to mark Victory Day.

Earlier in this month, the BNP decided to take to the streets in March or April next year if the interim government does not declare an election roadmap. The party also discussed it at the November 7 rally where tens of thousands of people joined.

In Monday’s standing committee meeting, some party members also gave their views on the BNP-Jamaat relationship, said meeting sources.

In the changed circumstances after August 5, BNP’s distance from Jamaat has widened, particularly regarding appointments to key positions in the administration and field-level offices. Certain statements from Jamaat leaders have caused a degree of “dissatisfaction” within BNP.

Despite this, some members commented that the BNP should not widen its distance from Jamaat for the sake of national unity, which is essential for the parliamentary election, said party leaders.

However, a few opined differently on the issue.