Internal disputes have become acute in the ruling Awami League across the country since the introduction of the use of political symbol in local polls.
According to party insiders, the dispute has deepened over wielding influence centring nomination of candidates in these polls. Moreover, since the party has been in power for many years some beneficiary groups emerged in the party, which aggravated the situation.
However, central leaders think it would take time to improve the situation since the use of party symbol in local polls was introduced recently.
The Awami League top brass anticipates that the party will face dire consequences in the upcoming national elections if the problem is not addressed immediately.
“Some beneficiary groups emerged in the party since the party has been at the helm for long. These groups want to grab rank, position and business which have given rise to internal disputes in the party. We are trying to resolve the disputes,” said Awami League Presidium Member Kazi Zafar Ullah.
Fazlur Rahman Faruk, president of Awami League’s Tangail district unit, said: “Incidents of internal dispute are rising for numerous reasons including attempts to wield influence and use of party symbol in local polls.”
He also said currently the party has fewer ideological leaders.
Faruk further said: “The party has become stronger than before as there are many members. But all of them are not dedicated, many beneficiaries have emerged. They want the dispute linger on.”
Citing examples of the neighbouring India, he said: “Congress and Communist Party of India (Marxist) are also being destroyed due to internal disputes.”
The local Awami League leader, however, admitted that it is difficult to control disputes.
Policymakers said there are multiple candidates in district, upazila and union level polls.
Since Awami League is a major party it is quite normal that there will be huge competitions, but now the competitions become severe.
The internal dispute was the main agenda of the latest meeting of central working committee of the party.
During the meeting, a committee was formed with a presidium member and four joint general secretaries to find out the reasons of the dispute.
The committee was asked to submit its report to party President Sheikh Hasina within 15 working days.
“We have already gathered a lot of information and will submit the report to the party chief very soon,” said one of the members of the committee.
Sources said many leaders in grassroots levels try to get nomination ahead of any polls since the use of party symbols was introduced.
There are both competent and incompetent candidates among these leaders. These people even get engaged in clashes to establish their influence which eventually turns into an unhealthy race.
From the interactions with grassroots leaders the central leaders they have identified local government polls as the main reason behind internal feud. The other reason is trying to seek positions in the party.
Sources said there are two groups in grassroots levels – one group aims to enjoy benefits by grabbing positions instead of working for the wellbeing of the party while the other group is concerned for the party with the spirit of the ideal of the party founder Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Central leaders said the beneficiary groups in grassroots levels try to keep pressure on the dedicated leaders in order to establish their supremacy. As a result, a conflict emerges between the beneficiary leaders and deprived and dedicated leaders. This conflict has spread all levels of the party.
Ashraf Ali Khan Khosru, general secretary of Awami League Netrokona district unit, said: “Everyone knows the reason behind the internal disputes. The disputes will decrease if party activities increase.
“There is a proverb `an idle mind is the devil’s workshop’. If the party leaders and activists are engaged in party activities they will be reunited,” he said.This article was first published on banglatribune.com
Thursday, June 04, 2026
