The ruling Awami League plans to maximise efforts to revamp its political strength following Eid-ul-Fitr. Sources said the AL will seek to change public opinion, apparently now against the party, ahead of the parliamentary elections.
The decision came Thursday at a meeting of the party’s central working committee, held at Gana Bhaban, the prime minister’s official residence.
Sources said, AL President Sheikh Hasina, who chaired the meeting of the party’s highest decision-making body, instructed her party leaders to go from village to village to garner support.
Teams of party leaders, and party affiliates will fan out across the country to mobilise public support, highlight the government’s achievements, and counter the propaganda by opposition parties, sources said.
Hasina also asked party leaders to hold iftar parties and public rallies in their respective areas during Ramadan.
The central committee meeting was convened to decide the party’s next steps, in the wake of consecutive defeats in recent mayoral polls. But no discussion took place on the local poll debacle, which frustrated many party leaders.
Expressing his disappointment, a committee member told the Dhaka Tribune that the party was passing through a crucial period, but this was not acknowledged at the meeting.
At the start of the meeting, Hasina cautioned that action would be taken against the candidates of the 34th Bangladesh Civil Service preliminary exams who took part in vandalism during street protests demanding cancellation of the quota system for government jobs. She also questioned whether the candidates were suitable for government service.
The prime minister said law enforcement agencies had video footage of the agitators, and they would be dealt with during the next phase of the exams.
“The government has evidence and pictures of those who were engaged in vandalism. Action will be taken against them when they attend the viva voce phase,” Hasina said. “Are these individuals, who were involved in vandalism, capable of doing public service? These notorious elements cannot get government jobs,” she said.
Hasina said the quota system had been in place for a long time. There were quotas for women and descendants of freedom fighters.
“Now a demand has arisen to cancel the quota system. Then, will we stop the opportunity for women and descendants of freedom fighters?
Will the razakars, al-Badr and al-Shams personnel rule the country?” she questioned.
“Freedom fighters were behind the independence of Bangladesh, and without their sacrifices, we would not have this country. It is because of the freedom fighters that they are getting the chance to get jobs under the public service commission,” she said.
Hasina also said the verdicts against the war criminals would be executed within the country. She added that those who were involved in vandalism, arson and murder to protect war criminals, would also be brought to justice.
The AL chief urged opposition BNP to clarify its position about the war crime trials.
“Our countrymen don’t know whether BNP is happy or unhappy with the verdicts in the war crime trials,” she said, adding that BNP’s silence on the matter proved its moral support for the war criminals.
Hinting at BNP’s support for Hefazat-e-Islam, Hasina said millions of female readymade garment workers would risk losing their jobs if Awami League is not voted back to power.
At one stage of the meeting, Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, entered the venue and exchanged greetings with party leaders.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said the party would put forth maximum efforts to counter BNP and Hefazat propaganda against it. He added that several teams would be formed to mobilise public support.
Responding to a query about his resignation, Ashraful termed it as a rumour.
“If anything happens like that, I would disclose it myself,” he said.
The meeting also decided to hold month-long programmes to mark the National Mourning Day on August 15.