The 21st National Council of the ruling Bangladesh Awami League is going to be launched today (Friday) at the Suhrawardy Udyan in capital Dhaka.
Sources in the party said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the eldest daughter of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, will remain as the party chief as usual and change also may not be made in its general secretary post. The present general secretary of the party is Obaidul Quader, who is also the Minister for Road Transport and Bridges Affairs.
Sources said, many surprises may come in the next council as more than half of the total leaders of the existing committee might be excluded while the same number of new faces might be included as new leaders in the next committee.
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 are said to be a part of the ongoing cleansing drives inside its own house.
The zero tolerance policy of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the daughter of the founder of the Bangladesh, against crimes and corruption is the main reason behind the expected changes in the party leadership through the exclusion of a major portion of existing leaders, said the sources.
Sources said, 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.
According to party sources, the two-day long council will be inaugurated by AL President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina through releasing the symbol of peace, pigeons, at 3pm at the historic venue, the site of Bangabandhu’s landmark 7th March address and surrender of Pakistani troops in 1971.
The theme of the council is “On the way to implement Bangabandhu’s dream of Sonar Bangla under Sheikh Hasina’s leadership, being advanced irresistibly: We are Bangladesh”.
The main council session will be held on December 21 at the Institution of Engineers drawing over 7,000 councilors from across the country, a day after its opening at the Suhrawardy Udyan.
The council venue wore a festive look with crowds of onlookers and organisers witnessing the preparedness while in the evening it was illuminated gorgeously and decorated with banners and festoons.
Portraits of Bangabandhu and Sheikh Hasina were seen in the area along with some festoons carrying the history and tradition of AL as well as the symbols of the party’s development activities.
The main stage of the council was prepared at 102 feet in length and 40 feet in width in the shape of a ‘Boat’, on Sundays the Padma River. Portrait of National Memorial will be on the stage and behind the memorial; Bangabandhu and Sheikh Hasina’s portrait will also be there.
Stringent security vigils were enforced in the capital coinciding with the council while Awami League and some 2,000 trained party volunteers were mobilized to ensure discipline and security in and around the council venue.
