G-9 guides BNP

Crisis-riddled BNP formed "Group-2009" consisting of cross section of professionals to assist the party and its backbench lawmakers on different issues and provide them with new thoughts, ideas and strategies.
Headed by Sayeeful Islam, former president of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Honorary Consul of Federative Republic of Brazil in Bangladesh, the Group-2009, also known as G-9, will work as the think tank of the party, sources said.
The 11-member executive committee of the G-9 was formed on April 2 through election, even though its formation was unheard of till very recently. Sayeeful Islam, son of BNP standing committee member M Shamsul Islam, and Asaduzzaman have been elected as president and secretary general of G-9.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia observed her birthday this year in a low profile and BNP did not support the six-hour strike in the capital called by National Committee to Protect, Oil, Gas, and Port. These were the result of the group's suggestions, said a source.
"Group-2009 will work like a party within the party. It will also work like a think tank for the party," Shafik Rehman, editor of the vernacular weekly Mouchake Dhil and a pro-BNP intellectual told The Daily Star.
Sources said members of the executive committee of the G-9 and other members of the group are mostly businesspersons, doctors, lawyers, retired army officials and teachers.
According to the G-9 constitution, its members have to be educated and must be regular taxpayers, said the source. It is also scheduled to sit once a week.
The G-9 is also working directly to influence the party and its lawmakers, like the 1922 Committee in British politics, said the source wishing anonymity.
The 1922 Committee was consisted of all backbench Conservative lawmakers, according to the website of the Conservative Party. The 18-member executive committee meets every week when the parliament is in session, and provides a way for Conservative backbenchers (and indirectly, ordinary party members) to have their views heard by frontbenchers. The committee was formed in 1923 but has taken its name from the 1922 general election.
Asked about the activities of G-9, Shafik Rehman said the group is working to modernise the party, its website, publishing bulletins like Dhaner Sish (sheaf of paddy).
It would also conduct researches and opinion polls on different issues and give suggestions on different issues, said a source.
The G-9 is set to give advice and guidelines to party lawmakers, especially the fresh ones, on how to speak and deliver arguments in public meetings, in parliament and in television talk shows, said a source.
It is not mandatory that the party chairperson and her stalwarts accept all suggestions given by the Group-2009 but the BNP chief has accepted some of our advice, added the source.