Ruling Bangladesh Awami League is set to hold its two-day 21st central council from tomorrow (December 20-21) at the capital’s Suharawardi Udyan and its adjacent Institute of Engineers Bangladesh (IEB). Sources in the AL’s policy makers said, keeping Sheikh Hasina as the president as usual, a massive change may come into different other important posts of the party through its council. A qualitative change will be one of the priorities to be considered through the inclusion of dedicated leaders with clean image while a large number will be sidelined due to their involvement with crimes, corruptions and anti-party activities.
The sources also said, many surprises may come in the next council as more than a half of the total leaders of the existing committee might be excluded while the same number of new faces might be included as the new leaders in the next committee. AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Wednesday said, “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hsina, the new committee will be more modern and organised with a combination of new and old leaders.”
Obaidul Quader, also the Minister for Roads, Transport and Bridges, made the remark while speaking at a meeting at the party’s central office at Bangabandhu Avenue on Wednesday. On the other hand, those who have been rewarded with the posts of ministers, lawmakers and other sectors in the government may not get vital posts in the party.
Changes in the leaderships of the ruling party is said to be a part of the ongoing cleansing drives inside its own party. The zero tolerance policy of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the daughter of Father of the Nation, against crimes and corruption is the main reason behind the expected changes in the party leadership through the exclusion of a major portion of the existing leaders, said the sources.
According to sources, around 40 to 45 leaders of the 83-member central executive committee would be sidelined and around 50 new faces would be included as the new leaders accordingly. Seeking anonymities several AL leaders said at a meeting of the party’s National Committee meeting on last Dec 4, party chief Sheikh Hasina already expressed her decisions about the changes regarding the upcoming council and selection of new leaderships as well.
She said that those who have sacrificed for the party their roles would be considered in the next council. She also hinted that leaders with honesty and clean images will also be given priorities. Sources in the party said the party chief, Sheikh Hasina has a list of leaders of her own choice. The list has been prepared based on intelligence from different agencies. She also has the details about the activities of her party men during the last 11-years of the government.
AL sources said, leaders from all the categories like in the presidium members’ body, secretary members’ body and executive members’ body in the existing committee might be phased out through the council and accordingly new faces would be introduced. Besides, young and energetic people would get priorities in the selection as the new leaders while women leaderships would get special emphasis. Leaders from student and youth politics as well as from the law, engineering and business sectors would be selected considering their contributions in their respective sectors.
Party sources said there are 11 sub-committees to make the council successful. Around 7,500 councilors from across the country are supposed to take part in the council while around 15,000 delegates from different parties and foreign missions in Bangladesh are expected to remain present. Besides, thousands of leaders, activists, supports and well-wishers of the party would join the council. As a result, the party and all of its leaders, activists and supports are excited and spending days in a festive mode to hold the 21st council of the Awami League.
AL presidium member Mohammad Nasim said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also the eldest daughter of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, will inaugurate the council tomorrow (Friday) and the new committee will be formed on December 21 (Saturday) through the council. Party sources said Tk 4 crore has been allotted as for covering the total events of the council.
