Ruling Awami League is planning to hold its next national council well ahead of the schedule to give fresh impetus to the organizational activities.
Party sources confirmed the Dhaka Tribune that there is a clear intent to hold the 21st Awami League National Council early to reenergize the party, which has been in power for past 10 years and has just got mandate to run the country for a third term on the trot.
Recently five Awami League leaders led by General Secretary Obaidul Quader met the party chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganabhaban, where she gave them a directive to hold the party council in March rather than in October.
As the leaders reminded her of upazila election schedule in March, the AL president asked them to take preparation to hold the council within two-three months after the local government polls.
The party will now hold its national council in advance, instead of completing present committee’s tenure, party sources said.
The 20th council of Awami League was held on October 22 and 23, 2016 where Sheikh Hasina and Obaidul Quader were elected as president and general secretary respectively.
A 19-member presidium, 81-member executive body and 180-member national committee were declared at that time.
Several senior Awami League leaders told the Dhaka Tribune that in the last 10 years, the prime minister was busy with country’s development and now she wants to pay more attention in strengthening the party as well.
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Quader informally discussed about the 21st council at Awami League president’s political office at Dhanmondi recently.
According to a joint general secretary of Awami League Sheikh Hasina has learned that Awami League leaders and activists have been engaged in intra party conflicts which go counter to a strong organization.
He said: “Sheikh Hasina wants to restore the party strength after minimizing inner conflicts during her period in office.”
He also claimed that several young leaders will be given responsibilities to run the party.
Talking with the Dhaka Tribune Awami League Presidium member Pijush Kanti Bhattacharjee said: “Holding of the council in advance solely depends on party president Sheikh Hasina.”
Awami League joint general secretary Abdur Rahman said he has learnt that party president Sheikh Hasina was thinking of holding the council in advance.
