An open discussion on the achievements, prospects and challenges facing the BNP government as it completes its first six months in office was held Tuesday at Dhaka University, organised by the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal's joint general secretary Maminul Islam Zisan.

Zisan is one of the names being strongly discussed as a contender to take over the leadership of JCD as its new president, with the ruling party student front awaiting the announcement of its new central committee.

Earlier on Thursday (Aug. 13), Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held an urgent meeting with the five top JCD leaders of the outgoing committee at his Gulshan political office.

After the meeting, outgoing JCD President Rakibul Islam Rakib and General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir posted emotional farewell messages on Facebook, signaling the end of their tenure.

Tarique Rahman is now expected to announce the new committee after reviewing and verifying all relevant information. During Thursday's meeting, he also solicited the outgoing leadership's votes for who should succeed them through ‘secret ballots’.

The fact that Tuesday's discussion at the Mall Chattor on the DU campus was attended by the leaders of JCD's Dhaka University, Dhaka College, Kabi Nazrul Govt College, and Titumir College units, among others, suggests strong support for Zisan in some of the traditional JCD power centres.

Speakers discussed the activities, achievements and prospects of the BNP government’s first six months, along with existing economic and social challenges.

Maminul Islam Zisan said he took the initiative to organise the discussion to highlight the government's "people-friendly" efforts to the students, declaring that the BNP government derives its power from the people. 

“180 days is not a long time. There is no scope to judge a government that took responsibility after the fall of a 17-year regime on the basis of just 180 days. But even so, within this time, many significant developments and possibilities have been created. At the same time, we have to acknowledge that the government has many challenges in future,” Zisan himself said.

He added that the government has to move forward taking many things into consideration, including a debt burden of Tk 23 lakh crores, inflation, and a jobs crisis amid people’s increasing expectations. 

“We believe there are chances to move forward Bangladesh with proper plans, political goodwill and young generation.”