The ruling Awami League has geared up its election preparations by forming a steering committee with party chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as its head.
The PM’s Adviser HT Imam has been made the co-chairman of the committee that also includes all the members of party’s central working committee and advisory council.
The steering body was formed at a meeting of the central working committee last night where Hasina asked the party leaders to make all-out preparations for the next parliamentary elections.
Hasina especially instructed General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam to be more active in the party’s organisational activities, an Awami League leader said.
She also said the party would start selling nomination forms for the next election soon and the programme would be announced after holding the party’s parliamentary board meeting.
A party source told the Dhaka Tribune that the Awami League would finalise the list of its candidates for all constituencies before the Election Commission announce the election schedule.
In her opening speech at the meeting, Hasina also warned the main opposition BNP, asking it not to hinder the next election.
“The leader of the opposition said doomsday would come. We will do whatever necessary to protect people as we did in the past,” Hasina said at the meeting held at Ganabhaban.
She also gave hints that the ongoing session of parliament might continue after October 24.
Although the main opposition BNP is threatening to boycott the polls if it is held under Sheikh Hasina’s government, the ruling Awami League chief has already started seeking votes at rallies and programmes.
Hasina on Sunday asked the party leaders and activists to focus on the next election. She also instructed them to be at the party’s central office on Bangabandhu Avenue and her office at Dhanmondi regularly, said meeting sources.
At the meeting Awami League Presidium member Abdul Latif Siddique said he was unwilling to contest in the next election but would obey the party chief’s decision whatever it was. He alleged that the party general secretary was very “meritorious and well-spoken but inactive.”
Latif also said the party’s organisational strength in and outside Dhaka was poor and needed to be improved soon.
Party’s Publicity Secretary Hasan Mahmud demanded announcement of regular programmes at district and upazila levels to cheer up the grassroots.
Organising Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim told the meeting that the party’s image had been tarnished because of the controversial activities of a few leaders.
Referring to the recent dissolution of many district committees, Nasim recommended taking action against the leaders who were doing this, said meeting sources.
Party’s Joint General Secretary Mahabub-Ul-Alam Hanif, who recently dissolved the Kushtia district committee, was asked by Hasina to resign as the PM’s special adviser at a meeting with the party’s grassroots leaders from Kushtiaon Wednesday.
But Hanif has not yet resigned. He said he wanted to talk to the prime minister.
JS session after Oct 24
Hasina Sunday said there was no problem in continuing parliament session “as it is not mentioned anywhere in the constitution that the session cannot continue after October 24.”
“Parliament can sit even a day before the announcement of the election schedule if the president wants, he/she can summon a session,” she told her party colleagues.
According to the constitution, the gap between two sessions cannot be more than 60 days.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has threatened to wage tough and non-stop movement after October 24 when, she claims, the parliament cannot continue.
The Business Advisory Committee of parliament in September said the present session could continue up to October 24. However, senior ruling party lawmakers suggested continuing the session even after October 24.
On Saturday, the BNP claimed that the government’s plan to extend the parliament session was a conspiracy. It alleged that the government wanted to thwart the opposition’s movement and mislead people.
Regarding the opposition’s criticism of the Election Commission, the premier said the president had formed a search committee to appoint the election commissioners in consultation with leaders of all political parties, including the leader of the opposition.
“The 18-party backed candidates won the city corporation polls under this Election Commission. If you [BNP] have so much popularity, why are you scared then?” Hasina said.
Under the new provisions in the constitution after the 15th amendment, the general election must be held between October 27 and January 24 next year. During this period, Sheikh Hasina’s government will continue to rule and parliament will not be dissolved.
The BNP is planning to gather its supporters on the streets and has announced a rally in the capital for October 25 to force the government to concede to its demand of amending the continuation and holding the election under a non-party interim government.
The ruling Awami League has also announced a rally for the same day in Dhaka to “counter BNP’s threat.”