RANGPUR, Dec 27, 2024 (BSS) - Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has set a precedent of establishing full democracy within the party by forming the Betgari union BNP committee in Gangachara upazila of Rangpur through secret ballots. 
 
Local people expressed satisfaction over the incident that happened on Thursday and are hoping that this incident will be a precedent to bring a breath of fresh air towards overall democratization in the country's politics. 

The triennial conference of Betgari union BNP was held at Betgari Bazar Brac Shishu Niketon School in Gangachara upazila on Thursday. 
 
Convener of Gangachara upazila BNP Md Waheduzzaman Mabu was the chief guest at the conference. 
 
The conference was inaugurated by Upazila BNP member-secretary Ayub Ali and the main speaker was Rangpur district BNP member Anwar Shahadat. 
 
At the conference, it was decided to form a committee of the Betgari union BNP through secret ballot. 
 
At this time, the Betgari union Convening Committee of BNP, announced a few months ago, was also dissolved. 
 
The schedule for the election of this committee was announced before the triennial conference like the Union Parishad or other general elections. Nominations were submitted and verified as per the announced schedule. 
 
After that, the candidates contesting against various posts were given three days to campaign. After receiving the symbol, the candidates put up posters and campaigned and made public relations. 
 
There were presiding and polling officers and ballot boxes for the election. 
 
Two candidates contested the post of president, two candidates for the post of general secretary and two candidates for the post of organizing secretary. 
 
The total number of voters was four hundred and fifty-nine. 
 
The presiding officer in the election was Golam Rabbani Ranju, a member of the Gangachara upazila BNP convening committee and in-charge of the office. 
 
Finally, on Thursday, local BNP leaders and activists waited in line at Betgari Bazar BRAC Shishu Niketan School from 2 pm to 5 pm in a festive atmosphere and then cast their votes for their respective candidates through secret ballots. 
 

After three hours of continuous voting, Upazila BNP convener Waheduzzaman Mabu announced the results in a festive atmosphere at around 8:30 pm. 
 
In this, Maulana Shahidul Islam won the post of president with 332 votes in the 'Chair' symbol. His opponent Md Nazrul Islam bagged 114 votes in the 'Pineapple' symbol. 
 
For the post of general secretary, Md Habibur Rahman won with 363 votes in the 'Ladder' symbol and his opponent Md Shariful Islam got 85 votes in the 'Football' symbol. 
 
Md Nurul Amin Nadim won the post of Organizing Secretary with 290 votes in the 'Fish' symbol and his opponent Md Ahsan Habib lost getting 156 votes in the 'Lock' symbol.
 
A total of 452 voters exercised their right to vote in the election. 
 
Talking to local journalists after the announcement of the results, young voter Ayesha Akhter said, "Earlier, the leaders used to elect their preferred leaders. But this time, we elected our leaders through secret ballots in a completely democratic manner. We are all very happy about that." 
 
Md Waheduzzaman Mabu, the chief guest of the triennial conference, said that like all other democratic elections, all the processes were followed correctly here too. The results were announced after fair voting and counting. 
 
He said, "Our national leader Tarique Rahman said that no committee will be formed based on nepotism. Those who the grassroots leaders and workers vote for will become leaders.

This is a big proof that BNP is a democratic party. This is how democracy should be practiced." 
 
At that time, Gangachara Upazila BNP senior joint convener Akheruzzaman Milon, joint convener Nazimuddin Pramanik Liju, Chand Sarkar, Mir Kashem Mithu, Nazmul Islam Huda and Ataul Maula, Upazila Jubo Dal member-secretary Shahin Alam Sona, Upazila Chhatra Dal senior joint convener Ashiquzzaman and leaders and activists of Upazila BNP and its affiliated organizations were present.