Following the demise of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, the post of chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has fallen vacant. In line with the party constitution, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has automatically assumed the responsibilities of chairman.

However, BNP sources said Tarique Rahman is not using the title of chairman at this stage as the party is observing a seven-day mourning programme marking Khaleda Zia’s death. The party will make a formal announcement regarding the chairmanship after a meeting of the BNP Standing Committee once the mourning period ends.

After the death of BNP founder and former President Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda Zia took charge of the party and was elected chairperson within two and a half years of entering active politics.

According to the party constitution, Tarique Rahman, then senior vice chairman of BNP, was appointed acting chairman on February 8, 2018, after Khaleda Zia was sent to jail.

Article 7(c) of the BNP constitution, under sub-clause 2 outlining the duties and powers of the senior vice chairman, stipulates that in the temporary absence of the chairman, the senior vice chairman will act as the acting chairman and discharge all responsibilities of the chairperson.

Under this provision, Tarique Rahman assumed the role of acting chairman in February 2018 and has been performing