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Speculation is going on about the new committee formation of the country’s oldest political party Awami League (AL) as the ruling party will hold its 22nd national council on December 24 this year just one year ahead of the parliamentary polls.
Party leaders and activists even opposition parties also keep their eyes on the upcoming council of the Awami League to know who will lead the party as the next national election is next to the door.
Party insiders said this time the national council will be a challenge for some failed and controversial senior leaders as the party will think of a combination of senior and new leaders who can tackle the next parliamentary polls as BNP has already shown its strength through its divisional rallies across the country. The council will select those leaders who can challenge the strength of the BNP ahead of polls.
As a result, many senior leaders can be dropped from the central committee and could be included in the presidium member panel or advisory committee.
According to the party sources, Awami League president Sheikh Hasina has been performing her duty as the party chief for the last 42 years. She is leading the country as prime minister for three consecutive terms. There is no alternative to Sheikh Hasina as Awami League president. Surely, Sheikh Hasina will once again lead the party in the next council. However, changes might come to any other posts of the party.
Contacted, Awami League presidium member Jahangir Kabir Nanak told Bangladesh Pratidin that changes will come in the next council except for one post of party president which was given to Sheikh Hasina for the last 42 years.
“It is a very normal matter that people including Awami League men will have interest in the Awami League council. Every council changes its leadership. This will happen also in the next council except for Sheikh Hasina. None is mandatory but Sheikh Hasina. She knows well who can run the party and how.”
Several senior leaders of the party said some changes might have come in presidium, secretary and member posts. Around 30-40 leaders might be dropped in this case. Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina will reorganise the party considering the capacity of the leaders to tackle the situation during elections.
Awami League presidium member Abdur Rahman said, “Except Sheikh Hasina, the daughter of Bangabandhu, none is indispensable in the party. She is the team leader of the party. The team leader will decide about the party leadership. Council means, some old faces will drop and some new faces will include. Our leader (Sheikh Hasina) has all information. She will decide about the new leadership.”
Party sources said a few former Chhatra League leaders, VPs of various universities, well-known faces across the country even district leaders could be included in the new Awami League committee.
AFM Bahauddin Nasim, joint general secretary of the party, told Bangladesh Pratidin that a new committee with a combination of the senior and young leaders will come out in the next council. Awami League will utilize the experience and sacrifices of the seniors and merit and youths of the new leaders to build a non-communal, discrimination-free, and developed Bangladesh through the parliamentary elections of 2024.
@ The article was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on November 18, 2022 and has been rewritten in English by Golam Rosul.
