Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Saturday underscored the need to move towards holding the party’s national council at the earliest possible time, as part of efforts to strengthen its organisational structure.

The meeting, presided over by BNP chairman Tarique Rahman at the party’s Gulshan office in Dhaka, reviewed the government’s 47-day programme and deliberated on the party’s own political strategies and policy positions, the leaders attended the meeting told New Age.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said discussions centred on consolidating the party and expediting preparations for the next council.

He said that the importance of holding the council at the earliest possible time to strengthen the party received priority in the meeting.

Responding to a question on whether the council could be held before Eid ul-Azha, Fakhrul said ‘It is not possible before Eid. It will take a few months.’

A member of the standing committee said the meeting discussed the party’s post-election performance and various policy initiatives, including proposals related to family cards, agricultural support measures, and canal excavation.

Energy and fuel issues also featured prominently, with concerns raised over rising international prices.

‘We discussed the current situation in the energy sector. Prices in the international market have increased significantly, and we examined whether any price adjustment measures could be considered,’ the BNP leader said.

He also said that the party would gradually reorganise its structure and initiate organisational activities ahead of the council, although no specific date has yet been fixed.

Another standing committee member said the meeting also reviewed the opposition’s programme for implementing the July Charter, reaffirming the BNP’s commitment to its implementation, while noting some differences as per its stated position.

The meeting was attended by the standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan (virtually), Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Selima Rahman (virtually), and AZM Zahid Hossain, among others.