AL likely to miss 2cr membership target
Drive yet to start in many districts
Abu Jakir
The membership drive of the Awami League (AL) has been going on at a snails pace. Insiders say this time, too, the party may fail to achieve its target of recruiting two crore new members to strengthen its organisation ahead of the next general elections in 2019. After the announcement by the partys top brass of the induction of fresh blood into the party, the central and grassroots leaders had started campaigning for it, targeting the next polls. But the membership campaign is yet to begin in many districts. Even in Dhaka, the membership campaign is yet to begin, though the party has a target of recruiting 25 lakh new faces here.
AL leaders said the membership drive has lost momentum, as the party leaders are busy with the month-long mourning programmes. Mymensingh city unit AL president Ehteshamul Alam said yesterday that they have not even started the membership drive yet.
We are busy with the August programmes. We will start our membership drive after Eid-ul-Azha, he said.
Dhaka South city unit AL general secretary, Shah-e-Alam Murad, yesterday said they are yet to begin the campaign, as they are busy with the party programmes. According to the partys Dhanmondi political office, the party has a target of recruiting two crore new members from across the country this time.
Party president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina launched the membership campaign at her official residence Ganabhaban on May 20 by paying a subscription fee of Tk. 500 to renew her party membership.
According to the AL constitution, the party membership should be renewed every three years by paying a subscription fee. Fresh members can collect the AL membership form by paying only Tk. 20.
The ALs last campaign in 2010 had not been successful either. AL office secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap said they have sold around 25 lakh membership forms so far.
We have received a huge response from the grassroots. Our district and upazila leaders have been collecting membership forms, and until now, we have sold membership forms worth Tk. 1 crore, he said. Replying to a question, the AL office secretary said, I hope to achieve our target of two crore members this time, he said. Ashraf Ali
Khan Khasru, the general secretary of the Netrakona district unit of AL, said they started the membership drive yesterday but it was slow because this is the month of mourning.
The main target of our membership drive is to woo new voters, especially women, AL general secretary Obaidul Quader had told this correspondent recently. He had also said that the instructions to the grassroots leaders were to recruit honourable persons like schoolteachers, imams of mosques, and the like.
AL joint general secretary Abdur Rahman said, Our membership collection drive is on and we are getting good response. I hope to attain our target of collecting two crore new members ahead of the next polls.
There is no room in AL for those who dont believe in the spirit of the Liberation War and those who are harmful for the party, he replied to a question. He added that after collecting new members from across the country, the party will scrutinise the list.
