Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has instructed leaders of her party to become more united and committed ahead of the next national parliament election to help secure a fourth consecutive term.
“We’ll win if we can stay united. No one can defeat a united Awami League,” Sheikh Hasina said, according to sources from the party.
She also asked them to be vigilant against all conspiracies and to showcase the development work across the country since 2009 while campaigning for the upcoming election, they added.
Sheikh Hasina was addressing a special extended meeting with top Awami League leaders from across the country at Ganabhaban on Sunday.
Awami League central working committee members, advisory council members, national committee members, MPs, presidents and general secretaries of district, city, municipal and upazila units joined the meeting.
District and upazila parishad chairmen, mayors endorsed by the ruling party, and presidents and general secretaries of AL associate organizations were also in attendance.
The meeting started at 10:30am and continued till 6pm with a lunch break. As many as 5,000 leaders of the party were in attendance.
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader delivered the welcome speech.
Loud and clear instructions
“Awami League has to work unitedly to secure victory for its candidates in the next general election which will be as per the Constitution. Whatever movements come from the opposition, Awami League will stick to its positions,” said the party chief.
She emphasized publicity of her government’s achievements in the last 15 years. During the meeting, a special booklet was provided with a sector-wise breakdown of the development work by the government since 2009.
“All the development in Bangladesh has been possible because Awami League is in power. What has been developed across the country should be showcased to the people,” said the premier.
“The ruling party has already conducted several surveys for the next national election and the results from them are satisfactory,” she said.
‘Commitment is crucial’
Grassroots leaders joined the meeting with much enthusiasm, giving the meeting venue a vibrant atmosphere. However, some of them vented their frustrations over several incumbent Awami League MPs and leaders in their speeches in front of the party president.
Sheikh Hasina instructed the grassroots leaders to forget the past and focus on the future, as the upcoming 12th national parliament election will be very challenging, meeting insiders said.
“Alongside pledging to follow the party chief’s directions properly, Awami League leaders promised Sheikh Hasina that they will work for the party’s picks for the election by raising their hands at the meeting,” a central leader told this newspaper on condition of anonymity.
According to another top leader, Sheikh Hasina warned party men against infighting because “it may deprive the people of the benefits of the country’s independence.”
No acting posts from now on
At the meeting, Sheikh Hasina also said that the party will no longer have any acting presidents and secretaries from now on. Those holding the posts with the “acting” designation will be now considered full president and secretary.
The Awami League chief did not clarify from what level (unit) of the leadership the move would be applicable.
