It is almost certain that Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina will be re-elected as the party chief for the tenth consecutive term at the 22nd national council of the Awami League on Sunday. All eyes are therefore on who her deputy will be.
Road Transports and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, who has been general secretary of the party since 2016, may be replaced considering that the next parliamentary election is a year away, according to several senior leaders, who also remarked, though, that there were no such indications.
"Before the national council, Obaidul Quader has been very active, and perhaps he is going to score a hat-trick," a senior leader said, asking not to be named.
Several other top leaders became active in party events and before the media in recent months in the expectation that the party chief may consider them for the General Secretary's post.
The aspirants include Presidium members Abdur Rahman, Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque and Jahangir Kabir Nanak; and joint general secretaries Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Dr Hasan Mahmud and AFM Bahauddin Nasim.
Party insiders say that at least two joint general secretaries may be inducted into the Presidium, the central committee's highest policy-making body, while some Presidium members who have got older may be shifted to the Advisory Council. The fourth joint general secretary is Dr Dipu Moni, who is the education minister in the government.
Publicity Secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap, three-time Organizing Secretary and State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, fourth-time Organizing Secretary Whip in Parliament Abu Sayeed Al Mahmood Sopon, Organizing Secretary and former minister Mirza Azam may become joint general secretaries if some of the four are moved up to the Presidium.
In addition, several changes may come about in the 20 secretary posts of the Central Working Committee. These posts may be filled with former student leaders and immediate-past leaders of the AL's front organizations.
However, Awami League President Sheikh Hasina at a recent event said she would welcome new and younger leadership in the party. Even though Obaidul Quader has been serving as the general secretary since 2016, no one has served more than two terms as general secretary with party President Sheikh Hasina.
"Changes are normal in a party council. I think changes in the party leadership will make the party stronger ahead of the next national election,” Kazi Zafarullah, a Presidium member, told Dhaka Tribune yesterday.
Many senior Awami League leaders have apparently changed their approach in the last few months in an attempt to demonstrate their organizing skills, seniority, and influence in the party ahead of the national council.
The other factors that will determine the competence of the party's new leadership include the ability to make political statements responsibly and effectively handling the opposition and the media.
Political observers say losing credibility over such shortcomings in recent times has caused trouble for the ruling party, now in its 13th year in power. Damage control does not seem to have been easy.
At several meetings in the last couple of months, Sheikh Hasina asked leaders and activists to work for the party and the people, and prove their efficiency as the next polls will be competitive.
Council preparations
Earlier, there was a ritual of holding the council for two days, but considering the ongoing financial crisis stemming from the Russia-Ukraine war and the pandemic, this time the council will be held on a single day and spread over two sessions. There will be breaks for lunch and prayers between the two sessions.
Already the Awami League has formed a three-member election commission led by Advisory Council Member Yusuf Hossain Humayun to conduct the election at the council along with Dr Moshiur Rahman and Sahabuddin Chuppu.
This time, the council's theme is "Unnoyon Obhijatray Deshratna Sheikh Hasinar Netritte Bangabandhur Swapner Unnoto, Shamridho O Smart Bangladesh Gorar Protoye", which roughly translates to "a promise to realize Bangabandhu's dream of building a developed, affluent and smart Bangladesh under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina". A delegation of senior leaders, including Organizing Secretary Mirza Azam, visited the council venue at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka on Tuesday afternoon.
Party insiders said they were preparing for a gathering of at least 100,000 people on the day of the council.
However, this time the ruling party has not invited any representatives of foreign political parties to the inaugural session, but it will invite leaders of other political parties in the country, including the BNP and Jatiya Party.
Foreign envoys stationed in Dhaka will also be invited alongside eminent personalities of the country, ministers and lawmakers.
The council stage will be in the shape of a boat, and images of some remarkable achievements of the government, including the Padma Bridge, metro rail, and Bangabandhu satellite, will serve as the backdrop.
Some 7,000 councillors from across the country will express their opinions at the council session over the election of the new committee.
The ruling party has allocated Tk3.13 crore for the council and has already spent Tk24 lakh on publications and publicity, Tk5 lakh on office expenses, Tk10 lakh on cultural programmes, Tk1.54 crore on food, and Tk1.20 crore on the stage and decorations, according to the sources.
Focus BanglaThe Awami League is one of the oldest political parties of this sub-continent founded on June 23, 1949, and has led the Liberation War under the guidance of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and several social and democratic movements.
Initially, its name was East Pakistan Awami Muslim League. Later, the word "Muslim" was dropped during its third council in 1955 to make the party more inclusive and secular.
Prominent leaders Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, Abdur Rashid Tarkabagish, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, AHM Kamaruzzaman, Mohiuddin Ahmed, Zohora Tajuddin, Abdul Maleque Ukil have led this party as president in different phases of its history.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, elder daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, has been leading the party since 1981.
Shamsul Huq, Bangabandhu, Tajuddin Ahmed, Zillur Rahman, Sajeda Chowdhury, Abdur Razzaque, Abdul Jalil, and Syed Ashraful Islam have served as general secretary of the party consecutively.
