Four newly appointed members of the BNP National Standing Committee on Tuesday met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at his office in the Bangladesh Secretariat.

The four leaders – Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Amanullah Aman, Dr Farhad Halim Donar and Ismail Zabihullah – called on the Prime Minister in the evening, said his Deputy Press Secretary Jahidul Islam Rony.

BNP Standing Committee member and Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed was also present during the meeting.

Earlier in the morning, the four newly appointed Standing Committee members paid tribute to BNP founder and Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia by placing wreaths at their graves in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman appointed the four leaders as members of the party’s highest policymaking body on August 15.

In a press release, the BNP said the four leaders had been appointed to the National Standing Committee in line with a party decision aimed at further enhancing its organisational dynamism.

The party expressed hope that, through their wisdom, experience and well-considered advice, the new members will contribute to taking important decisions in the interest of both the party and the people at its highest policymaking forum.

The BNP last held its national council on March 19, 2016, following which the National Standing Committee was reconstituted. Several positions subsequently fell vacant due to the deaths and resignations of members, while the party appointed new members to some of the vacancies at different times.

This is the first time in recent years that the party has appointed four members to the Standing Committee at once.

The BNP’s 19-member National Standing Committee previously had 13 members. With the addition of the four new members, its current strength now stands at 16.

The existing members include Tarique Rahman, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Rafiqul Islam Miah, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, Selima Rahman, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku and AZM Zahid Hossain.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has been nominated by the BNP as its candidate for the presidency.

He is expected to resign from his party position following the presidential election scheduled for August 20.