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All eyes at the ruling Awami League’s 22nd council, scheduled to be held tomorrow (Saturday), as countrymen including party leaders and activists hope for a surprise from the council including changes to the post of general secretary which is now posted by Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader.
To hold the day-long council peacefully, all necessary preparations have already been completed.
Awami League President Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the council at 10:30 am in the capital’s historic Suhrawardy Udyan. A total of 8,000 councillors ad 25,000 delegates from across the country will participate at the council.
The second session of the council will be held at Engineers Institution in the afternoon where partymen will decide their next leadership.
According to the party sources, nine councils were held so far by Awami League after taking the charge of the party by Sheikh Hasina in 1981 in the absence of Father of the Nation. There was no question about the president's post at every council. As a result, Sheikh Hasina became the party chief nine times at a stretch. Like in previous years, this time she is expected to be the party chief by the votes of the councillors expect the leaders and activists of the party.
On the other hand, Obaidul Quader has been performing the duty of running mate of Sheikh Hasina for the second consecutive term. The main attraction of the council is centered on the post of general secretary of the party. There is speculation about the new general secretary or hat-trick term of Obaidul Quader. However, the keys belong to Sheikh Hasina. She will choose her next running mate. Her decision is final.
Obaidul Quader became the party’s general secretary for the first time at the national council in 2016. His name is also being uttered by the partymen for the general secretary post for the third consecutive term. However, none performed the duty of Awami League general secretary thrice in independent Bangladesh.
Late president Zillur Rahman and late senior leader Syed Ashraful Islam performed the duty of Awami League general secretary twice as the running mate of Sheikh Hasina. Although Zillur Rahman performed the same job as the running mate of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Partymen think if Sheikh Hasina selects Obaidul Quader for the third term it will be a surprise and if she chooses a new one for the position that will also be a surprise.
On the other hand, party’s some leaders want active participation in the Awami League’s politics from the family of Bangabandhu. They expect Sheikh Rehana, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Saima Wazed Putul or Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby in politics. They want new leadership should come to the 22nd council. In the last meeting of the party’s national committee, some leaders raised the issue. In response, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said she has no objection as anyone from her family can come into politics as all of them are mature enough. But it depends on them, she pointed.
Meanwhile, during Friday’s visit to the Suhrawardy Udyan, Obaidul Quader hinted that there will be no massive changes in the party’s leadership at the council.
He said, “After the national elections, we might hold the next council early. Massive changes might come then. That’s why there is less possibility of massive changes this time. We are not thinking about big changes.”
In response to a question about the dropping of some controversial leaders from the new committee, he said, “We all are not perfect human beings. We live in with wrongdoings. If we search the perfection, then many things we have to think about. We have a plan about the controversial persons.”
The general secretary also said Sheikh Hasina is mandatory for the party. There is no question about her presidency in the party. But there are at least 10 candidates for the post of general secretary.
“I will not predict the next general secretary as time is not matured. Councillors and our leader (Sheikh Hasina) will decide the matter at the council,” he continued.
Council preparatory committee will give a gift to the 8,000 councillors ad 25,000 delegates which included a notepad, pen, chocolate, biscuit, tissue, file folder, and publications said the party sources.
@ The article was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on December 23, 2022 and has been rewritten in English by Golam Rosul.
