AL presidium likely to have new faces

Hanif tipped to be spokesperson

The ruling Awami League (AL) is going to bring about changes in its presidium and in the positions of its organising secretaries through its upcoming 20th triennial central council session, scheduled to be held on October 22 and 23 this year. 
Party insiders said some inactive and aged presidium members are likely to be dropped, while some senior leaders could be included in the party’s highest policymaking body. This correspondent talked to several central leaders of the ruling AL. 
Senior leaders—the party’s international affairs secretary Lt. Col. (retd) Mohammad Faruk Khan, agriculture and co-operative affairs secretary Dr Abdur Razzak, MP, and its joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif—might be brought in as members of its presidium. Incumbent presidium members Satish Chandra Roy and advocate Sahara Khatun may be excluded from the existing committee. Besides, AL presidium member and deputy leader in Parliament, Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, who is suffering from old age complications, might be given relief from party activities during the upcoming council sessions, insiders said. 
According to the party constitution, the presidium comprises of a total of 15 members, including its president, the general secretary and 13 presidium members.
At present, three posts of the presidium are lying vacant. One became vacant after the last council while another after Syeda Zohra Tajuddin passed away. The third post has been lying vacant with the removal of Abdul Latif Siddique from the AL.
Meanwhile, the AL’s top leadership has decided to increase the number of its organising secretaries in consonance with the country’s divisions. The party currently has seven organising secretaries, but after the council session, the AL would have 10 organising secretaries. The party’s central executive committee members—SM Kamal, Sujit Roy Nandi and Aminul Islam Amin—may be made the party’s organising secretaries. The party may also increase the number of positions of joint general secretary. 

Aminul Islam Amin, a central executive committee member, told this correspondent on Thursday that the party’s top leadership has decided to raise the number of positions of its organising secretaries in consonance with the country’s divisions.  
“Yes, three positions of the party’s presidium are now vacant. These positions would be filled up with senior central leaders through the upcoming council sessions,” he said. 
Meanwhile, the AL’s top brass will bring about minor changes in the party’s top leadership in its upcoming 20th triennial central council session. 
While Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to be elected president of Bangladesh Awami League unopposed, the incumbent general secretary and public administration minister, Syed Ashraful Islam, may be retained in his party position for the third consecutive time through the upcoming council session, insiders said. 
They said the AL chief, Sheikh Hasina, has long been seeking a dynamic leader as the party’s general secretary, but she is not getting any person whose qualities and personality would surpass Syed Ashraf’s.    
Some central AL leaders have suggested to their party chief to select a dynamic leader as the general secretary of her party as the incumbent is often sick or skips party programmes. Ashraf also does not enjoy tackling media queries. 
Party insiders, however, said AL president Sheikh Hasina has decided to retain Syed Ashraf as the general secretary of her party, but at the same time, the party may announce a new spokesperson of the AL in the council session. The party constitution would then have to be amended in this respect, as there is no provision for a spokesperson in the party constitution. Usually the AL’s general secretary discharges the duties of the party spokesperson.
Meanwhile, the name of the AL’s joint general secretary, Mahbubul Alam Hanif, is being cited by party sources as the spokesperson of the ruling party. He has been performing his duties as the “undeclared spokesperson” of the party. Besides, he has also discharged his duties as the acting general secretary of the AL in the absence of Syed Ashraful Islam. 
Mahbubul Alam Hanif, the lawmaker from Kushtia-3, has come into the limelight in the past four or five years for his hard work in connection with party activities. During the party’s district council sessions, Hanif toured throughout the country and completed the party’s pending district council sessions on the instructions of party chief Sheikh Hasina. Thereby, he has made a strong place for himself in the party.    
Besides, Hanif can tackle the media very well and can deliver speeches appropriately during any media briefing or party programme. Most leaders of the party and its associate bodies are also pleased with him for his astute leadership as he attends each and every programme organised by his party or its associate organisations.  
Talking to this correspondent, AL international affairs secretary and former commerce minister Lt Col. (retd) Muhammad Faruk Khan said the party’s top brass is thinking of creating a position of a party “spokesperson” in the party constitution. 

AL presidium likely to have new faces

Hanif tipped to be spokesperson

The ruling Awami League (AL) is going to bring about changes in its presidium and in the positions of its organising secretaries through its upcoming 20th triennial central council session, scheduled to be held on October 22 and 23 this year. Party insiders said some inactive and aged presidium members are likely to be dropped, while some senior leaders could be included in the partys highest policymaking body. This correspondent talked to several central leaders of the ruling AL. Senior leadersthe partys international affairs secretary Lt. Col. (retd) Mohammad Faruk Khan, agriculture and co-operative affairs secretary Dr Abdur Razzak, MP, and its joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanifmight be brought in as members of its presidium. Incumbent presidium members Satish Chandra Roy and advocate Sahara Khatun may be excluded from the existing committee. Besides, AL presidium member and deputy leader in Parliament, Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, who is suffering from old age complications, might be given relief from party activities during the upcoming council sessions, insiders said. According to the party constitution, the presidium comprises of a total of 15 members, including its president, the general secretary and 13 presidium members. At present, three posts of the presidium are lying vacant. One became vacant after the last council while another after Syeda Zohra Tajuddin passed away. The third post has been lying vacant with the removal of Abdul Latif Siddique from the AL. Meanwhile, the ALs top leadership has decided to increase the number of its organising secretaries in consonance with the countrys divisions. The party currently has seven organising secretaries, but after thecouncil session, the AL would have 10 organising secretaries. The partys central executive committee membersSM Kamal, Sujit Roy Nandi and Aminul Islam Aminmay be made the partys organising secretaries. The party may also increase the number of positions of joint general secretary. Aminul Islam Amin, a central executive committee member, told this correspondent on Thursday that the partys top leadership has decided to raise the number of positions of its organising secretaries in consonance with the countrys divisions. Yes, three positions of the partys presidium are now vacant. These positions would be filled up with senior central leaders through the upcoming council sessions, he said. Meanwhile, the ALs top brass will bring about minor changes in the partys top leadership in its upcoming 20th triennial central council session. While Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to be elected president of Bangladesh Awami League unopposed, the incumbent general secretary and public administration minister, Syed Ashraful Islam, may be retained in his party position for the third consecutive time through the upcoming council session, insiders said. They said the AL chief, Sheikh Hasina, has long been seeking a dynamic leader as the partys general secretary, but she is not getting any person whose qualities and personality would surpass Syed Ashrafs. Some central AL leaders have suggested to their party chief to select a dynamic leader as the general secretary of her party as the incumbent is often sick or skips party programmes. Ashraf also does not enjoy tackling media queries. Party insiders, however, said AL president Sheikh Hasina has decided to retain Syed Ashraf as the general secretary of her party, but at the same time, the party may announce a new spokesperson of the AL in the council session. The party constitution would then have to be amended in this respect, as there is no provision for a spokesperson in the party constitution. Usually the ALs general secretary discharges the duties of the party spokesperson. Meanwhile, the name of the ALs joint general secretary, Mahbubul Alam Hanif, is being cited by party sources as the spokesperson of the ruling party. He has been performing his duties as the undeclared spokesperson of the party. Besides, he has also discharged his duties as the acting general secretary of the AL in the absence of Syed Ashraful Islam. Mahbubul Alam Hanif, the lawmaker from Kushtia-3, has come into the limelight in the past four or five years for his hard work in connection with party activities. During the partys district council sessions, Hanif toured throughout the country and completed the partys pending district council sessions on the instructions of party chief Sheikh Hasina. Thereby, he has made a strong place for himself in the party. Besides, Hanif can tackle the media very well and can deliver speeches appropriately during any media briefing or party programme. Most leaders of the party and its associate bodies are also pleased with him for his astute leadership as he attends each and every programme organised by his party or its associate organisations. Talking to this correspondent, AL international affairs secretary and former commerce minister Lt Col. (retd) Muhammad Faruk Khan said the partys top brass is thinking of creating a position of a party spokesperson in the party constitution.