Facing a serious fund crisis, BNP has planned to force its senior leaders, including standing committee members, to clear their outstanding monthly subscriptions so that its organisational activities do not suffer any setback as the party is in its overhaul process after failure in its two successive movements.
Sources at the BNP’s central office said, a ‘red list’, containing the names of nearly 50 party leaders who did not pay any money to the party fund as their monthly fees despite repeated requests, has been prepared as per the party chairperson’s direction.Nearly one-fifth members of BNP standing committee, chairperson’s advisory council, executive committee members and the ex-MPs of the 9th parliament have not paid any monthly fee to the party fund since 2010.
The sources said those dodged the monthly subscriptions were reminded several times through sending letters with the party chairperson’s order to clear the outstanding.
The last letter was issued on June 9 from the party’s Nayapaltan central office evoking a very poor response from the fee-dodging leaders.
Under the circumstances, party chief Khaleda Zia asked the party central office to prepare a ‘red list’. “The names of 50 leaders, including some standing committee members, will be there in the red list. The list has almost been made. It’ll be submitted to the party chief very soon,” said a party leader wishing anonymity.
Alongside, the BNP leader said, another letter will be sent to them with a strong warning of the party chief to clear their all dues immediately.
The party’s 2009 national council fixed Tk 1,000 as the monthly fees for a national standing committee member and an ex-MP, while Tk 500 for a vice-chairman and a party chaperon’s advisory council member, Tk 300 for a secretary and Tk 100 for a member of the national executive committee.
The council held in December 2009 also made it mandatory for the lawmakers and the central leaders of the organisation to pay their monthly fees regularly, but almost all the party leaders failed to follow it properly.
There are only a few leaders, including party chairperson Khaleda Zia, senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman, acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, standing committee members Moudud Ahmed and Jamiruddin Sircar, cleared the outstanding monthly fees. Some other leaders also cleared their partial dues, according to the BNP central office sources.
As per the BNP office’s latest count, the party leaders left over Tk 40 lakh as their outstanding monthly fees, forcing the party to depend on some particular leaders’ donations to bear the office maintenance expenditure.
Contacted, BNP standing committee member Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman said, “I’ve heard many leaders dodging their monthly fees. This is unexpected. This is embarrassing for the party.”
He thinks the party leaders by refraining from paying their monthly subscriptions are demonstrating their lack of seriousness about the party.
Mahbub, however, dislikes the party’s move to prepare the ‘read list’ of the subscriptions-dodgingleaders, saying it will not be a right action at this critical time of the party.
He said party should work out a good strategy so that the central leaders get encouraged to clear their all dues and pay their fees regularly.
Besides, the policymakers suggested the leaders concerned to be more active for collecting the monthly fees of the party men.
Party vice chairman Selima Rahman said party leaders actually do not pay their fees regularly due to their lethargy. “But whenever they have the chance they clear it. I myself clear my dues when I go to the party office.”
She, however, said everyone should pay it regularly for helping the party smoothly function its activities.
Selima declined to make any comment over the ‘red list’ saying she is not aware of it.
Party youth affairs secretary Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal said there are two types of leaders who dodge party fees — one group who have little sympathy for the party and those who are on the run.
He also thinks making the ‘red list’ is a good move saying those who do not pay the nominal amount of monthly subscriptions should be treated in such a manner.
BNP spokesman Asaduzzaman Ripon said they are trying to realise the dues through regular contacts with the party leaders. “We hope they’ll pay their outstanding as we’re reminding them about it repeatedly.”- BNP
