The Narayanganj district unit of Awami League's tri-annual conference was held after 25 years on Sunday.
For the third time, Abdul Hai became the president and Abu Hasnat Shahid Badal the general secretary of Narayanganj district Awami League through the conference.
A three-member partial committee announced Badal as general secretary.
Before Sunday, the Narayanganj district Awami League conference was last held on December 20, 1997. At that time Prof Nazma Rahman was made president and AKM Shamim Osman was made general secretary.
After that no more conference of district Awami League took place. However, the district committee was announced several times.
Earlier on November 25, 2017, the full committee of 74 members of district Awami League was approved leaving six posts vacant.
Meanwhile, a mixed reaction was seen in the district Awami League with the announcement of the new committee.
Before the announcement of the committee, MP Shamim Osman addressed the central leaders and said: “Grassroot people should be evaluated in this new committee.”
After the announcement of the conference, tension started between the leaders and activists. Various speculations started with the formation of the committee.
Awami League's district, upazila and thana level leaders and activists started coming in groups from different places of the district to Isdair town's Osmani Stadium in Narayanganj from Sunday morning.
Awami League Presidium Member and Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaq inaugurated the conference around 3pm.
At the time, District Awami League President Abdul Hai, Textile and Jute Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi, Narayanganj City Corporation Mayor Dr Selina Hayat Ivy, Central Secretary Mrinal Kanti Das, Member of Parliament Shamim Osman, Central Leader Bidyut Barua, Meher Afroz Chumki, Member of Parliament Nazrul Islam Babu, District Awami League General Secretary Abu Hasnat Shahid Badal, among other leaders, were present.
However, overriding all this, the Narayanganj City Corporation mayor Dr Selina Hayat Ivy and Parliament Member AKM Shamima Osman were the centre of discussion in the conference.
The two political leaders of Narayanganj despite sitting beside each other were not seen talking to one another.
General Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League and Minister of Road Transport and Bridges Obaidul Quader commented that it is beneficial for both of them to come to the conference.
Mentioning the strength of Narayanganj to Shamim Osman and Ivy, he said: “Narayanganj is the birthplace of Awami League and the language movement. My visit has been worthwhile because everyone is sitting together, including Shamim and Ivy.”
Mayor Ivy and other activists urged everyone to work together.