Prime Minister Tarique Rahman urged BNP leaders to keep the party united to counter what he described as conspiracies by fallen forces abroad and efforts by a domestic group to mislead the public. He issued the instructions during a closed-door meeting on Sunday night with 700 leaders from BNP’s Chattogram metropolitan, north district and south district units at a five-star hotel in Chattogram.

Three participants told Amar Desh that the meeting ran from 7:30pm to 9:30pm. Addressing grassroots leaders, Rahman said workers’ conduct represents the party and that their behaviour and contributions collectively define BNP. He stressed a service-oriented mindset, positive efforts to help people and cordial relations among party colleagues, saying these would strengthen his hand and the government.

Referring to the possibility that local government elections could be announced later this year, Rahman called on party workers to remain united. He urged inactive associate and affiliated bodies to become active and directed that organisations with expired committees be reorganised. He also instructed leaders to communicate the government’s development work and plans to the public.