Councillors and delegates from all over Bangladesh are converging on Suhrawardy Udyan as the clock ticks down to the start of the 22nd national council of the ruling Awami League on Saturday.
The gates opened at 7am, and they were entering in small processions.
A large number of volunteers and members of law enforcement agencies are on duty.
According to traffic guidelines, invited guests (special invitation-card holders), diplomats and representatives of diplomatic missions, cabinet members, lawmakers, Awami League advisory council and central committee members, and presidents and general secretaries of the party's district and Dhaka city units will enter the venue through the gate near the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) or Shikha Chirantan gate of Suhrawardy Uddyan.
Bangla TribuneBesides, all Awami League councillors, delegates and its leaders and activists can enter the venue through the gates of Suhrawardy Uddyan near the Bangla Academy, Ramna Kali Mandir, TSC and the Fine Arts Faculty of Dhaka University.
Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the council by releasing pigeons at 10:30am.
Bangla TribuneAfter the hoisting of the national and party flags, central leaders will take seats on the stage.
Then a 30-minute cultural function will be held.
The main theme of this year's council is “Unnoyon Abhijatrai Deshratna Sheikh Hasinar Netritte Bangabandhur Swapner Unnoto, Samridho O Smart Bangladesh Gorar Protoye”.
As many as 8,500 councillors and 25,000 delegates from all over the country will participate in the council.
Bangla TribuneThe conference used to be held for two days in the past, but this time the conference is being held in a day as part of austerity.
There will be a break for lunch and prayers after the end of the inaugural session.
Then the council session will be held in the auditorium of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB).
It is all but certain that Sheikh Hasina will be re-elected as the party chief for the tenth consecutive term at the council. All eyes are therefore on who her deputy will be.
