AL in muddle over assistant secys

The ruling Awami League (AL) is finding itself in a difficult position over the finalisation of the list of assistant secretaries of the party’s central sub-committee, as the AL has decided to prune the number of assistant secretaries to 95 from the current 467. According to sources at the party’s Dhanmondi office, 467 names in total are currently enlisted as assistant secretaries with the party office. Among them, 66 were named in the subcommittee announced after the party’s 19th national council session in 2012. After that, the number soon swelled to over 400.

According to the AL constitution, there must be five assistants for each of the party’s 19 departmental secretaries to assist them with organisational activities. However, after the party’s 20th national council session of 2016, the AL’s top echelons decided to cut its jumbo-sized subcommittee down to between 95 and 101 members. This, however, frustrated those young leaders who had found a place in the party through the committee.

Party insiders disclosed that this time, former presidents, secretaries and other top leaders of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) would be inducted as assistant secretaries of the party’s central sub-committee.

However, following the announcement of the party’s 20th national council, junior leaders have been making a beeline for the Dhanmondi office of their party leaders so as to become honourable members of the central subcommittee. But the party’s top brass has not announced the committee yet.

Party insiders said AL general secretary Obaidul Quader and its office secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap were responsible for the delay as they wanted to induct candidates of their choice into the committee. The party’s president, Premier Sheikh Hasina, however, did not approve the committee in the face of strong opposition from the other central leaders of the party.

The AL chief has fixed quotas for the party’s joint secretaries and organising secretaries and the office secretary, to enable them to induct new faces into the committees of the party and thereby preclude internal feuds over the issue. From now on, every joint secretary, publicity secretary and office secretary will be empowered to induct a maximum of five members, while an organising secretary can induct three members into the committee.

However, the party’s general secretary is empowered to induct the rest of the members into the committee after scrutinising the CVs of the aspirant leaders filed at the party office. Office sources said over 1,500 CVs have been submitted to the Dhanmondi office in this respect.

Talking to this correspondent recently, AL joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif conceded that certain irregularities had occurred in the appointments of assistant secretaries to the party’s central sub-committee. He, however, clarified that the party’s top brass would consider the issue seriously this time. “And I think this time the number of assistant secretaries would not be more than 95, as stipulated in the party constitution,” he added.

Talking to reporters at a press conference at the Dhanmondi office on Thursday, AL general secretary Obaidul Quader said they would soon announce the names of assistant secretaries of the party’s central sub-committee.

“We are currently working on forming sub-committees for the party’s 19 departmental secretaries. We will then announce the names of assistant secretaries. Obviously, the number will be limited to 100,” Quader said.

AL organising secretary Barrister Muhibul Hassan Chowdhury (Nawfel) yesterday said the party’s top echelons were now working to select members of the sub-committees for 19 departmental secretaries of the party. Each subcommittee will have 25 to 30 members. After the sub-committees are formed, the names of the assistant secretaries will be announced, he added.

AL in muddle over assistant secys

The ruling Awami League (AL) is finding itself in a difficult position over the finalisation of the list of assistant secretaries of the partys central sub-committee, as the AL has decided to prune the number of assistant secretaries to 95 from the current 467. According to sources at the partys Dhanmondi office, 467 names in total are currently enlisted as assistant secretaries with the party office. Among them, 66 were named in the subcommittee announced after the partys 19th national council session in 2012. After that, the number soon swelled to over 400. According to the AL constitution, there must be five assistants for each of the partys 19 departmental secretaries to assist them with organisational activities. However, after the partys 20th national council session of 2016, the ALs top echelons decided to cut its jumbo-sized subcommittee down to between 95 and 101 members. This, however, frustrated those young leaders who had found a place in the party through the committee. Party insiders disclosed that this time, former presidents, secretaries and other top leaders of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) would be inducted as assistant secretaries of the partys central sub-committee. However, following the announcement of the partys 20th national council, junior leaders have been making a beeline for the Dhanmondi office of their party leaders so as to become honourable members of the central subcommittee. But the partys top brass has not announced the committee yet. Party insiders said AL general secretary Obaidul Quader and its office secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap were responsible for the delay as they wanted to induct candidates of their choice into the committee. The partys president, Premier Sheikh Hasina, however, did not approve the committee in the face of strong opposition from the other central leaders of the party. The AL chief has fixed quotas for the partys joint secretaries and organising secretaries and the office secretary, to enable them to induct new faces into the committees of the party and thereby preclude internal feuds over the issue. From now on, every joint secretary, publicity secretary and office secretary will be empowered to induct a maximum of five members, while an organising secretary can induct three members into the committee. However, the partys general secretary is empowered to induct the rest of the members into the committee after scrutinising the CVs of the aspirant leaders filed at the party office. Office sources said over 1,500 CVs have been submitted to the Dhanmondi office in this respect. Talking to this correspondent recently, AL joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif conceded that certain irregularities had occurred in the appointments of assistant secretaries to the partys central sub-committee. He, however, clarified that the partys top brass would consider the issue seriously this time. And I think this time the number of assistant secretaries would not be more than 95, as stipulated in the party constitution, he added. Talking to reporters at a press conference at the Dhanmondi office on Thursday, AL general secretary Obaidul Quader said they would soon announce the names of assistant secretaries of the partys central sub-committee. We are currently working on forming sub-committees for the partys 19 departmental secretaries. We will then announce the names of assistant secretaries. Obviously, the number will be limited to 100, Quader said. AL organising secretary Barrister Muhibul Hassan Chowdhury (Nawfel) yesterday said the partys top echelons were now working to select members of the sub-committees for 19 departmental secretaries of the party. Each subcommittee will have 25 to 30 members. After the sub-committees are formed, the names of the assistant secretaries will be announced, he added.