Those Who Served as BNP Secretary General Over 48 Years: Who Served for How Long?

Photo: Collected

News Desk: Over the nearly 48-year political journey of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) since its establishment, several leaders have served as the party’s Secretary General. Some held this important organizational position for a few years, while others served for more than a decade. Veteran politicians as well as high-profile figures have held the position. Many of them completed their tenure with a record of success, while others faced humiliation.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir served as the BNP’s Secretary General for the longest period. After taking charge as Acting Secretary General in 2011, he became the full-fledged Secretary General in 2016. After being nominated by the BNP for the presidency, he resigned from the position of Secretary General and all other party posts on Thursday (August 13).

This report looks at who held the BNP’s second-highest position and how long they served—

When the BNP was established on September 1, 1978, Professor Dr. A. Q. M. Badruddoza Chowdhury was made the party’s first Secretary General. He served in the position from 1978 to 1986, for approximately eight years. During his tenure, Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia served as the BNP’s chairmen.

After him, retired Lt. Col. Mostafizur Rahman became Secretary General. He served as Secretary General from 1986 to 1987 for approximately one year.

After Mostafizur Rahman, K. M. Obaidur Rahman became Secretary General in 1987. His tenure as Secretary General was not very long. The former student leader held the position for about one year.

In 1988, he was removed, and Barrister Abdus Salam Talukder was made Secretary General. Salam Talukder held the position from 1988 to 1996 for approximately eight years. He lost the position after the BNP’s defeat in the 1996 election.

In June 1996, Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan took charge as the BNP’s Secretary General. Before this, he had served as the party’s Joint Secretary General. He remained the party’s Secretary General for 11 consecutive years. Mannan Bhuiyan’s long tenure is considered one of the longest-serving tenures of a Secretary General in BNP history. During the One-Eleven period, Mannan Bhuiyan betrayed the party’s top leadership. He was later expelled from the party in 2007.

During the party’s difficult period, Khondkar Delwar Hossain was made Acting Secretary General. Before this, he had been a member of the party’s Standing Committee.

Khondkar Delwar Hossain took charge in January 2007 and remained the BNP’s Secretary General until his death on March 16, 2011, serving for approximately four years. After his death, the party’s Senior Joint Secretary General, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, was given the responsibility of Acting Secretary General.

After remaining Acting Secretary General for five years, Mirza Fakhrul was formally made the BNP’s Secretary General on March 30, 2016. However, he had effectively been performing the duties of the party’s Secretary General since March 2011. Until his resignation after being nominated by the party for the presidency in August 2026, his total tenure as Secretary General stood at approximately 15 years and five months. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has served as the BNP’s Secretary General for the longest period.

Tenures of BNP Secretaries General: A. Q. M. Badruddoza Chowdhury — 1978–1986, approximately 8 years, Mostafizur Rahman — 1986–1987, approximately 1 year, K. M. Obaidur Rahman — 1987–1988, approximately 1 year, Abdus Salam Talukder — 1988–1996, approximately 8 years, Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan — 1996–2007, approximately 11 years, Khondkar Delwar Hossain — 2007–2011, approximately 4 years, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir — 2011–2026, approximately 15 years and 5 months; initially Acting Secretary General, full-fledged Secretary General from 2016.

As a result, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has served as the BNP’s Secretary General for the longest period in the party’s history. After him, Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan held the position for a long period. Meanwhile, founding Secretary General A. Q. M. Badruddoza Chowdhury and Abdus Salam Talukder each served for approximately eight years.