The University Teachers’ Association of Bangladesh (UTAB) has welcomed the appointment of four new members to the BNP’s National Standing Committee, the party’s highest policymaking body.

In a statement on Saturday, UTAB President Prof ABM Obaidul Islam and Secretary General Prof Morshed Hasan Khan thanked the BNP leadership for including the four leaders in the committee and congratulated the newly appointed members.

They said the decision to include experienced, tested and capable BNP leaders would make the party more organised, stronger and more dynamic.

“We hope the four new members will use their extensive political and professional experience, wisdom and foresight to strengthen democracy, establish justice and help build a prosperous Bangladesh,” they said.

The UTAB leaders said the appointments brought together people with extensive experience in politics, medicine, professional organisations and public administration.

They also thanked BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman for appointing the four members to the important policymaking body.

The statement highlighted the political and professional backgrounds of the new members.

Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed served as BNP senior joint secretary general and looked after the party’s office affairs. He became actively involved in nationalist politics during his student years and served as central president of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and elected vice-president of Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (RAKSU).

UTAB said Rizvi played an important role in the anti-autocracy movement in the 1990s and led the party during several difficult periods. He also spent time in jail in connection with numerous cases, according to the statement.

Aman Ullah Aman, another new member, serves as an adviser to the BNP chairman and previously served as central president of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal. He also served as an elected vice-president of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU).

The veteran politician won parliamentary elections several times and played an active role in the anti-autocracy movement in the 1990s. He also served as a state minister twice and currently represents the Dhaka-2 constituency in parliament, according to UTAB.

Prof Farhad Halim Donar, a noted physician, oncologist and professional leader, became involved in Chhatra Dal politics while studying at Mymensingh Medical College.

He currently serves as chairman of the Bangladesh Medical Society for Research and Innovation (BMSRI) and as a member of the Dhaka University Syndicate. He also serves as a member of the BNP chairman’s advisory council.

Donar previously served as acting convener of the BNP’s Dhaka North city unit. He also serves as executive director of the Ziaur Rahman Foundation (ZRF) and chief adviser to the Doctors’ Association of Bangladesh (DAB), UTAB said.

Md Ismail Zabihullah, the fourth new member, spent a long career as a senior Bangladesh Civil Service officer. He held important positions in several ministries and government divisions, including secretary of the Economic Relations Division (ERD), secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare and secretary of the Ministry of Shipping.

After retiring from government service, Zabihullah joined BNP politics and currently serves as a member of the BNP chairman’s advisory council.

He also played an important role in the party’s policymaking activities and served as chief coordinator of the BNP’s election management committee ahead of the 13th parliamentary election.

After the BNP won the election and formed the government in February this year, Zabihullah took charge as the prime minister’s adviser on public administration with the rank of a minister, according to the statement.

UTAB said all four new standing committee members had demonstrated extensive experience, expertise, wisdom and leadership in their respective fields.

“Their combined experience in politics, professional organisations and state administration will undoubtedly enrich the BNP’s policymaking process,” the UTAB leaders said.

They expressed hope that the four leaders would use their political insight, experience and forward-looking approach to strengthen the BNP in the country’s changing political landscape.

UTAB also expressed confidence that their views, experience and leadership would contribute to Bangladesh’s democratic progress, development and prosperity.

The organisation wished the four new members good health, long lives and success in their political and personal lives.