All councillors speak of Joy, want him as future leader

As Awami League's 20th council rolled into its second day, councillors who have come from across the country continued to raise support for Sajeeb Wazed Joy, the son of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. On Sunday morning, Hasina opened the session with a speech, after which councillors were given the floor. Rangpur Awami League unit's General Secretary Rezaul Karim Raju said: "Our dream for the future is Sajeeb Wazed Joy. We want to see him in Awami League's future politics." Looking at party President Hasina, he said: "We want Joy at your side leading our politics in the future." Mymensingh President Baki Billah said: "We believe Sajeeb Wazed Joy needs to be initiated into the party." "And you should not leave us either," he told Hasina. The president answered: "I'm not leaving you. Where would I go?" Thakurgaon General Secretary Saad Koreshi called on Hasina to choose leaders who are "loyal to you and will keep the party secure." "We also want to see Joy in the new committee." Leaders who spoke on the first day also expressed similar sentiments. Praising Joy as a very talented, skilled and qualitative leader, they raised their voice in favour of him and said they wanted to see Joy in an important and top post of the party. General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam expressed support for Joy in the beginning, saying: “Youths like Sajeeb Wazed Joy will lead the country in the future.” After general secretary’s speech, leaders from the grassroots level expressed their loyalty to Joy while Sheikh Hasina, the president of Awami League, was present at the stage. Dhirendra Debnath Shambhu, president of Barguna district unit, said: “As an inheritor of Bangabandhu, Sajeeb Wazed Joy has gained fame in country and abroad. He is an educated, talented and skilled person. So, we want to see him as an important leader of our party.” He also said: “In absence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Joy would be able to lead our party as well as Bangladesh.” Shofiqur Rahman, general secretary of Sylhet Awami League unit, said: “Joy is very popular among the young generation and he is the dreamer of digital Bangladesh.” Chittagong unit’s General Secretary Abdus Salam said: “We want Joy as the leader of Awami League and he will be able to run AL very smoothly in the future.” Chowdhury Emdadul Haque, president of the Gopalganj unit, said: “Now, the inheritor of Bangabandhu is leading Awami League. Later, who will run AL will be able to make Bangladesh as solvent and economically developed country.” In their speeches Siddiqur Rahman, president of the USA unit and Syed Sajidur Rahman Faruque, general secretary, also uttered their supports for Joy. Syed Ashraful Islam then took to the microphone again and said: “Stand up Joy, councillors want to see you. You have to lead Bangladesh in future.” Earlier, in the morning Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the national council at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan, attended by over 50,000 people including 6,570 councillors, over 30,000 delegates, guests and foreign dignitaries.