The Ruling Awami League may launch its campaign for the upcoming 12th National Parliamentary election through a visit to Sylhet on September 2 by Prime Minister and AL president Sheikh Hasina, said sources in the Awami League.
The sources said, the AL chief and incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina hinted the matter during the special extended meeting with the grass root leaders held at her official residence Ganabhaban on August 6.
At the meeting, the ruling party chief also directed her party leaders to take final preparations for the next national poll as saying that the elections will be held on time and as per the constitution through the democratic process.
It should be mentioned that before all national elections held in the past, all the major political parties launch their election campaign through visiting the Shrines of Hajarat Shah Jalal and Shah Paran in Sylhet.
Accordingly, the Awami League will also pay visit to Sylhet on September 2 and open the party’s political campaign.
Later, Sheikh Hasina will start visiting different divisional cities, districts and other strategic places, where the Awami League will organize rallies and Prime Minister will also address them.
According to Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal, the Election Commission (EC) may announce the schedule for the next general election following October and the election may be held in the last week of December this year.
According to sources, the Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during the party’s special extended meeting asked the grass root level leaders to pay attention on how the party could ensure its victory.
She also warned the party leaders and activists not to get involved in violence with the BNP and Jamaat activists.
Terming the violence of BNP and Jamaat a trap, Sheikh Hasina said that the BNP and Jamaat in the name of political programmes have been trying to plot violence to destabilize the country.
“Law enforcers will handle the violence and anarchy of BNP and Jamaat,” Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina advised her party leaders, “You should refrain from violence with BNP and Jamaat and pay attention to the next national election.”
Sheikh Hasina also directed her party leaders to follow her directives and work for the victory of the candidates nominated by the party.
She also assured them of resolving existing feuds among the leaders of the party immediately so that the best candidates could be selected and elected in the elections.
Sources said during the special extended meeting, many leaders from different organisational units described the party’s situation in their respective areas and also mentioned the intra-party feuds among the leaders.
The meeting sources further said that the high-command in the Awami League, mainly Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has launched different surveys countrywide so that the best candidate could be sorted out and nominated for the next national elections.
Meeting sources also said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina clearly conveyed her message to her party leaders that the next national election will be held as per the constitution and directed her party leaders to take preparations for it.
She asked all the party leaders to work only for the party nominated candidates and all the participating leaders promised her to follow her directives.
Sheikh Hasina also asked the party leaders to remain alert against the conspiracies and fight against rumours, false propaganda and sabotage attempts by BNP, Jamaat and vested other quarters.
The Prime Minister also asked the party leaders not to be afraid of movement against the government and by some foreigners, who are trying to destroy the democratic system and hand over the state power to the unconstitutional forces.
The meeting sources said that the Awami League president also instructed the party leaders to strengthen the party through intensified activities on the field so that opposition parties and vested quarters could not mislead or misguide the people of the country.
Although around 5,000 leaders took part in the meeting, main participants at the meeting were the leaders from the party's grass root level.
According to sources in the Awami League, with this special extended meeting, the ruling party has formally started its final preparations for the next national elections.
The last special meeting of the party was held in 2017 just before the 11th Parliamentary election in 2018.
According to sources, chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, members of the national committee of the AL, its central executive committee and advisory council, presidents and general secretaries of all the cities, districts, municipalities, upazilas and thana committees, lawmakers elected from the party, chairmen of Zilla Parishads and Upazila Parishad and mayors elected from the AL and central presidents and general secretaries of the all associate and affiliated bodies, among others, were also present at the meeting.