BNP senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman, now living in London, will run the party as its acting chairman in absence of its chairperson Khaleda Zia who was sent to jail after conviction by a court on Thursday, said party leaders.
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at a press conference at the party's Nayapaltan central office said, "Our party will be run as per its constitution," reports UNB.
According to section C of Article 5 of BNP charter, party vice chairman will perform as its acting chairman in absence of the party chairperson.
BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said Tarique Rahman has automatically become the party's acting chairman as per the constitution after Khaleda was sent to jail.
Nazrul said Tarique will be able to run the party by providing necessary directions to party top leaders from London.
Tarique, also the elder son of Khaleda, was also sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment and fined Tk 2.10 crore in the same case Khaleda was sent to jail. He was earlier convicted in a money laundering case.
Tarique who has been living in London since September 11, 2008 after being released from jail on parole was made party's senior vice-chairman in its fifth national council, creating the new post.
BNP vice chairman Hafizuddin Ahmed said Tarique in coordination with party standing committee members will run the party in absence of Khaleda.
A party standing committee member wishing anonymity said Khaleda has already given her party's top leaders the necessary direction about how the party will be run.
He said they are not worried about party leadership as Khaleda will be get bail very soon.
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