AL may amend its constitution
Plan to increase number of office bearers
Abu Jakir
The ruling Awami League (AL) is likely to amend its constitution before the 20th triennial central council session of the party to be held next month or in the first week of March. According to party insiders, the decision to amend the party constitution may be taken at the AL Central Working Committee meeting today, in a bid to increase the total number of office bearers of the party. Currently, there are 73 office bearers of Bangladesh Awami League. As per the existing party constitution, AL executive committee members are called office bearers of the party. Talking to The Independent on Thursday, AL International Affairs Secretary and former Commerce Minister, Lt Col (Retd) Mohammad Faruq Khan, said some changes may be made in the party constitution before holding the upcoming 20th central council session. As Bangladesh Awami League is the biggest and oldest political party in the country and it has a large number of leaders and workers, the total number of the partys executive members may be increased. Further decision in this regard will be taken in todays working committee meeting, he said.
As the tenure of the partys incumbent committee expired last year, it does not have the authority to change the party constitution. Hence, tenure of the existing committee may be increased by one or two months for it to be able to bring changes to the party constitution and the next executive committee will be formed as per the amended party constitution, an AL senior leader told this correspondent. Another party source said that the number of AL joint general secretaries, organising secretaries and executive members will be increased through an amendment to the party constitution. AL held its last (19th) triennial central council on December 29, 2012, which expired on December 28, 2015, according to the party constitution.
Earlier, through a party press release, AL General Secretary and Public Administration Minister, Syed Ashraful Islam, urged all executive members of the party to attend todays central working committee meeting. According to a media release, the meeting will begin at 6:00pm at Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas official residence, Gono Bhaban, and will be chaired by her. Meanwhile, several central leaders of the party said there will not be any significant change in the party high command in its 20th triennial national council session. When contacted, AL Joint General Secretary, Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif, said, Further decision on the partys 20th central council session will be taken in todays ALCWC meeting. But I hope no major reshuffle will be brought in the party high command in the upcoming national council. Insiders revealed that though there is interest among the AL top brass to be general secretary, the PM wants Syed to be Al General Secretary for the third time. Syed was first elected General Secretary in the 18th council session held on July 24, 2009.
