BNP launches month-long programme to activate grassroots, counter misinformation

Highlights

• Letter issued on 10 May to distrtict and metropolitan leaders 
• Coordination ordered with BNP and affiliated bodies across all tiers
• Campaign includes courtyard meetings, rallies, and direct outreach 
• Leaflet campaign to counter "anti-reform" narrative over July Charter 

The BNP has launched a month-long nationwide programme to activate its grassroots organisational structure, counter what it calls misinformation, and highlight government development activities.

Under the initiative, district, metropolitan, upazila and union-level units have been instructed to intensify coordinated field-level outreach, circulating leaflets to counter claims branding the party as "anti-reform" over the July National Charter issue.

A letter dated 10 May, signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, was sent to all district and metropolitan leaders, directing them to strengthen organisational coordination with BNP and its affiliated and associate bodies at district and city levels. The directive calls for structured programmes engaging grassroots leadership across tiers.

Speaking to The Business Standard, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said party activists are already active in political programmes, but the new instructions aim to expand and systematise field-level engagement.

"They will hold organisational and workers' meetings involving thana and union-level leadership," he said, adding that BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman had given similar instructions in a recent meeting. "We have also issued directives from the party office," he added.

A BNP source said the programme is aimed at countering what it described as misinformation regarding the party's stance on the July National Charter and related issues, allegedly spread by opposition parties, while presenting what it calls the "correct picture," expanding public engagement, and reinforcing its political narrative.

The source added that the party had faced organisational stagnation after forming the government, with concerns that party and state functions had become blurred. It said the current initiative seeks to separate organisational activity from state administration while rebuilding internal capacity.

Party insiders said the campaign will include courtyard meetings, street meetings, leaflet distribution, opinion exchange sessions, rallies and direct public outreach. Leaders at all levels have been instructed to remain active, with warnings of organisational action against units failing to implement directives.

Grassroots units have already begun preparations. Jashore district BNP President Advocate Syed Saberul Haq Sabu said the directive was received on Tuesday night and that programmes will be finalised after consultations with district leaders. He added that efforts will focus on countering what BNP describes as misinformation from Jamaat-e-Islami regarding the July Charter, particularly in support of the signed version excluding the "note of dissent." Leaflets on the charter will be distributed across the district, alongside possible public rallies.

Khulna Metropolitan BNP Member Secretary Shafiqul Islam Tuhin said two sets of leaflets will be circulated – one outlining the BNP's position on the July National Charter and another detailing what he described as 80 days of government development activities. He said preparations are underway and rallies will be organised as required.

Dhaka Metropolitan South BNP Member Secretary Tanvir Ahmed Robin said organisational work has already begun with meetings involving leaders of 24 thanas and 80 wards to finalise programme structure and timing. He added that some ward-level activities will be held before Eid-ul-Azha, while others will continue after the festival, with near-daily programmes planned across different areas.

On 9 May in Dhaka, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman directed grassroots leaders to reach people via leaflets, street and courtyard meetings, explain party positions on the referendum and July National Charter, highlight development work, and coordinate activities from thana to union level with central reporting.