Only 12 days are left before the 22nd National Council of the ruling Awami League, which led the country’s great War of Liberation and later put the country on the highway of progress and development.
The party is preparing to hold the council successfully at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital city of Dhaka on December 24.
According to the demand of the party and the nation as well it is for sure the incumbent president of the Party, Sheikh Hasina, also the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, will remain the party chief. But the main curiosity in and out of the party remains over who is going to be the next general secretary.
The daughter of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Sheikh Hasina has been elected the president of Awami League in 1981 and since then she has been working as the party chief for the last 43 years unopposed.
On the other hand, Obaidul Quader is working as the general secretary of the ruling party for consecutive two times. Now the main question crops up if Obaidul Quader would continue as general secretary for three consecutive times or he will be replaced by any other person.
However, no one has a history of working as General Secretary for three consecutive terms in Awami League. If Obaidul Quader remains in this position again, it will be a record.
Earlier in the past, late Syed Ashraful Islam and Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury served as the general secretary for two consecutive terms after the independence of Bangladesh. Although late President Zillur Rahman served as General Secretary for four terms, but it was not consecutive. After serving in that position for two consecutive terms, he was the general secretary for two consecutive terms with a long break.
It should be recalled that Taj Uddin Ahmed, the first Prime Minister of the country, and Abdur Razzaq, also served as general secretary of the Awami League. Taj Uddin Ahmed served as the general secretary when Awami League was in the top form. But Abdur Razzaq held the post when the Awami League and the country as well was passing through hard times ever,
According to sources, Obaidul Quader is ahead in the race among all other aspirants for the post of general secretary of the ruling party. Although, earlier he had some complications over his health and strength, at present he almost has recovered. He is now busy with the party activities in full swing.
Sources in the Awami League said, at least a dozen of leaders are in the race to become the next general secretary of the ruling party. They include, party’s presidium member and Minister of Agriculture Dr. Abdur Razzak, another presidium member Jahangir Kabir Nanak, joint general secretary Mahbub Ul Alam Hanif, Information and Broadcasting minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud, another presidium member Abdur Rahman and another joint general secretary Dr. Dipu Moni, who is also the Education Minister.
But, party’s decision -making sources said there are many leaders, who aspire to become general secretary of Awami League, but the next general secretary will be selected considering the country’s existing political situation. Besides, the next general election is going to be held in about one year. In the circumstances, the post of the general secretary is considered to be very important.
Not only that those who will be selected for the important positions including the general secretary of the party, will have to handle the election period situation capably.
In view of the critical situation, any new leadership is unlikely to emerge. Several senior leaders of the Awami League said that after all, the decision of party chief Sheikh Hasina is final about who would be given the post of general secretary of the party. She may select any person for any post suitable for the party. In the circumstances, Obaidul quader may continue as party general secretary.
