Some senior leaders have already suggested that the high command take immediate measures to rid the party and its front organisations of those who are corrupt and somehow involved in organised crime, said sources.

"Currently, there seems no alternative to reorganising the party as well as its different wings. It will be good for us if the high-ups act to weed out the corrupt ones from the leadership," a leader told The Daily Star in return for anonymity.

Allegations of corruption and criminal activities against most of the front organisations' top brass are rife and those might drag the party deeper into troubled waters, fear the BNP loyalists.

"We need some people with good image to survive the changed and adverse situation," another leader requesting not to be named told The Daily Star.

A group of senior leaders plan to place a formal proposal to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia for a drive against the ones whose misdeeds in the last five years have "brought on adversities for the party".

They believe a senior leader in particular had misguided the leadership regarding different constitutional and legal matters.

Meanwhile, the recent appointments to the national standing committee, the highest policymaking body, have caused resentment among a section of the BNP bigwigs.

Some of them have expressed disapproval over the decisions taken unilaterally by the party chairperson, as they wanted to see more senior leaders in those posts.

In a sudden move on January 16, Khaleda appointed former minister Shamsul Islam and former lawmaker Lt Gen (retired) Mahbubur Rahman as the standing committee members.

Among others, Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, Nazmul Huda, Tariqul Islam, and Justice TH Khan were in the race for the posts.

However, no one complained about the new members. They welcomed Rahman's appointment as he has a good image in and outside the party.

Like him, Shamsul Islam has a positive image among the leaders and workers. He had played an important role in the movement against the Awami League government between 1996 and 2001.

According to the BNP constitution, the standing committee can have at the maximum 15 members including the party chairperson. However, it has not had as many members since 1996. The party chairperson is expected to choose two more persons to fill the remaining slots.

Immediately after the general election of 1996, Majid Ul Haque resigned while barrister Rafiqul Islam Miah was relieved of his post. Besides, Mustafizur Rahman, another member of the committee, died. These posts have long remained vacant.

On October 27 last year, Col (retired) Oli Ahmed, now executive president of Liberal Democratic Party, left the BNP.