AL grassroots bodies in a shambles

There is no full-fledged or new committee in 57 organisational districts out of 73

In the absence of full-fledged or new committees at the district level of the Awami League, the party’s grassroots activities have slowed down alarmingly.
District AL leaders pointed out that even this year the party’s founding anniversary was not observed properly due to the lack of coordination between the grassroots workers and district bosses.
Though the AL senior leadership has started holding council sessions at the district level since last year after a long gap of almost 10-15 years in a bid to strengthen the party’s network, they were not able to complete council sessions of all the organisational districts.
Even in those districts in which the council sessions have been completed one or two years back, the AL leadership has failed to appoint full-fledged committees.
According to the information collected by The Independent, 57 out of the 73 organisational districts do not have full-fledged or fresh committees. The failure of local chiefs to form full-fledged committees has only added to the frustration of the grassroots leaders.
Out of the 73 AL organisational districts, only 16 districts have full-fledged committees, while 32 districts do not have full-fledged committees and in 25 districts the old committees are managing the affairs of the party.
Earlier, on Friday at the ALCWC meeting, Prime Minister and AL President Sheikh Hasina directed the central leaders to submit district committee reports, including the names of leaders of the new committees within 15 days and complete the pending district councils within next month.
The Barisal district AL is being led by its old president, Abul Hasnat Abdullah. After more than a decade, the district council session was held on December 26, 2012, in which Hasnat was selected as the district chief following a compromise. It’s more than two-and-a-half years since his appointment, but he is yet to form a full committee.
When contacted, advocate Subhash Chandra Sheel, President, Banaripara upazilla AL, said, “It’s true that there is no full-fledged committee in the district, but the organisational activities are being carried out properly.” He refrained from commenting about Hasnat, who is in charge of the Barisal district.
Similarly, the council session of the Bogra district AL was held in December last year, where the previous leadership was selected for the post of the president and the secretary after a compromise. It’s almost seven months since their appointment, but still there is no full-fledged committee in the district.
Yeakub Ali, a grassroots level leader said, “The incumbent president, Momotaz Uddin, controls the Bogra district AL. The announcement of the new committee completely depends on him. During our council session, he promised to appoint a new committee within a month, but it’s almost eight months now and he has not done that yet.”
When contacted, Momotaz Uddin said that the full district committee will be announced when the time is right. He also expressed his unwillingness to answer any questions in this regard.
The situation of the AL in Sherpur, Satkhira, Gazipur, Barguna and Mymensingh districts is also the same. Gazipur district AL General Secretary, Azmat Ullah Khan, admitted to the absence of a full committee in his district, but assured that a new committee will be announced within a month in an effort to strengthen the party’s network. “We held our upazila council session on Thursday, and I hope that we will be able to announce a new committee for the district by next month,” he said.
Talking to The Independent, AL Organising Secretary, AFM Bahauddin Nasim, said, “Yes, we have some problems at the district level. But I hope it will be sorted out soon as we have completed the council sessions in almost all the districts.”  
Meanwhile, after missing three deadlines, the AL senior leadership started the task of completing the pending district council sessions in April last year, which is yet to be concluded. Party sources say that only 60-70 percent council sessions out of the 73 organisational districts have been completed.
When contacted, the AL Office Secretary, Abdus Sobhan Golap, said “Right now, I cannot give you exactly how many council sessions in different districts have been completed because the party’s organising secretaries are yet to submit the relevant papers. But I think around 80 percent of district council sessions have been completed.”
On May 26, 2014, the party decided to complete the pending council sessions in all the organisational districts by October 30. But it failed to meet the deadline. According to the party’s constitution, the district council sessions have to be held every three years. But in many of the districts they were held after a gap of almost 10-15 years.

 

 

 

AL grassroots bodies in a shambles

There is no full-fledged or new committee in 57 organisational districts out of 73

In the absence of full-fledged or new committees at the district level of the Awami League, the partys grassroots activities have slowed down alarmingly. District AL leaders pointed out that even this year the partys founding anniversary was not observed properly due to the lack of coordination between the grassroots workers and district bosses. Though the AL senior leadership has started holding council sessions at the district level since last year after a long gap of almost 10-15 years in a bid to strengthen the partys network, they were not able to complete council sessions of all the organisational districts. Even in those districts in which the council sessions have been completed one or two years back, the AL leadership has failed to appoint full-fledged committees. According to the information collected by The Independent, 57 out of the 73 organisational districts do not have full-fledged or fresh committees. The failure of local chiefs to form full-fledged committees has only added to the frustration of the grassroots leaders. Out of the 73 AL organisational districts, only 16 districts have full-fledged committees, while 32 districts do not have full-fledged committees and in 25 districts the old committees are managing the affairs of the party. Earlier, on Friday at the ALCWC meeting, Prime Minister and AL President Sheikh Hasina directed the central leaders to submit district committee reports, including the names of leaders of the new committees within 15 days and complete the pending district councils within next month. The Barisal district AL is being led by its old president, Abul Hasnat Abdullah. After more than a decade, the district council session was held on December 26, 2012, in which Hasnat was selected as the district chief following a compromise. Its more than two-and-a-half years since his appointment, but he is yet to form a full committee. When contacted, advocate Subhash Chandra Sheel, President, Banaripara upazilla AL, said, Its true that there is no full-fledged committee in the district, but the organisational activities are being carried out properly. He refrained from commenting about Hasnat, who is in charge of the Barisal district. Similarly, the council session of the Bogra district AL was held in December last year, where the previous leadership was selected for the post of the president and the secretary after a compromise. Its almost seven months since their appointment, but still there is no full-fledged committee in the district. Yeakub Ali, a grassroots level leader said, The incumbent president, Momotaz Uddin, controls the Bogra district AL. The announcement of the new committee completely depends on him. During our council session, he promised to appoint a new committee within a month, but its almost eight months now and he has not done that yet. When contacted, Momotaz Uddin said that the full district committee will be announced when the time is right. He also expressed his unwillingness to answer any questions in this regard. The situation of the AL in Sherpur, Satkhira, Gazipur, Barguna and Mymensingh districts is also the same. Gazipur district AL General Secretary, Azmat Ullah Khan, admitted to the absence of a full committee in his district, but assured that a new committee will be announced within a month in an effort to strengthen the partys network. We held our upazila council session on Thursday, and I hope that we will be able to announce a new committee for the district by next month, he said. Talking to The Independent, AL Organising Secretary, AFM Bahauddin Nasim, said, Yes, we have some problems at the district level. But I hope it will be sorted out soon as we have completed the council sessions in almost all the districts. Meanwhile, after missing three deadlines, the AL senior leadership started the task of completing the pending district council sessions in April last year, which is yet to be concluded. Party sources say that only 60-70 percent council sessions out of the 73 organisational districts have been completed. When contacted, the AL Office Secretary, Abdus Sobhan Golap, said Right now, I cannot give you exactly how many council sessions in different districts have been completed because the partys organising secretaries are yet to submit the relevant papers. But I think around 80 percent of district council sessions have been completed. On May 26, 2014, the party decided to complete the pending council sessions in all the organisational districts by October 30. But it failed to meet the deadline. According to the partys constitution, the district council sessions have to be held every three years. But in many of the districts they were held after a gap of almost 10-15 years.