Number of presidium positions may go up
AL likely to bring new faces in executive body
At least 15 new leaders will be included in the ALCWC and 10 might be dropped through the council scheduled for Oct 22-23
Abu Jakir
The Awami League (AL) is going to introduce major changes to its highest policymaking executive body, Awami League Central Working Committee (ALCWC), through the partys 20th triennial central council scheduled for October 22-23. Some dedicated young leaders, who discharged their organisational duties properly and upheld the partys image, will be inducted in the new committee, while some aged leaders might be dropped, said sources. At least 15 new faces will be introduced to the new committee and at least 10 leaders might be dropped, they added.
AL high-ups excluded some influential leaders from its executive body through its central councils in 2009 and 2012. This tradition is likely to continue during the upcoming session. However, the final decision completely depends on party president Sheikh Hasina, party insiders said.
Road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader told The Independent that some new faces will be inducted in the new executive committee in line with the Digital Bangladesh vision and in keeping with the demand of grassroots activists.
AL joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said around 10 to 15 new faces might be inducted in the new committee. The partys executive committee currently has 73 members, which will be increased to 81. Besides, some members of the existing committee might be dropped, he added.
Hanif also hinted that the number of the partys presidium positions might be increased. According to the party constitution, the presidium must be composed of 15 members including the party president, general secretary and 13 others. The number of presidium positions might be increased to 17 or 19.
At present, three posts of the AL presidium have remained vacant. One of them became vacant after the last council. The other two became unoccupied after the death of Syeda Zohra Tajuddin and the removal of Abdul Latif Siddique from the party.
When contacted, Aminul Islam Amin, a central executive committee member of the party, said, Yes, three positions of the partys presidium are now vacant. These positions will be filled up with senior central leaders through the upcoming council sessions.
Party insiders said senior leaders such as the AL international affairs secretary Lt. Col. (Retd) Mohammad Faruk Khan, agriculture and co-operative affairs secretary Dr Abdur Razzak, its joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif, advisory council member and LGRD minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, science and technology affairs secretary Yeafes Osman, relief minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya and education minister Nurul Islam Nahid might be given the membership of the presidium. Incumbent presidium members Satish Chandra Roy and Sahara Khatun might be excluded from the presidium position and made advisory council members of the party, they added.
Besides, AL presidium member and deputy leader in Parliament, Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, might be relieved of party activities due to her old-age complications.
AL high-ups have also decided to increase the number of its organising secretaries from seven to 10 through the central council session. Partys central executive committee members SM Kamal, Sujit Roy Nandi, Aminul Islam Amin, Enamul Haque Shamim, along with state minister for foreign affairs, Md Shahriar Alam, and state minister for textile and jute, Mirza Azam, might be made the partys organising secretaries.
The party may also increase the number of joint general secretary positions. Jubo League chairman Omar Faruk Chowdhury, Nazrul Islam Babu, Bahadur Bapari, Iqbal Hossain Apu, Pankaj Debnath, Liyakat Sikder, Whip Iqbalur Rahim, Prime Ministers special assistant Mahbubul Haque Shakil and PMs assistant personal secretary (APS-2) Saifuzzaman Shekhor might be among the fresh faces in the new executive body.
AL high-ups have resolved to increase the number of women members in its executive body through the ensuing council session. State minister for post and telecommunication, Tarana Halim, state minister for women and children affairs, Meher Afroz Chumki, former BCL leader Marufa Akhter Popy, and AL lawmakers Nazma Akhter and Apu Ukil could be inducted in the new committee as executive members.
Sources said no change is likely to be made in the partys top leadership. Prime minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to be elected unopposed the president of the party, while the incumbent general secretary, Syed Ashraful Islam, may retain in his position for the third consecutive time. The party held its last (19th) triennial central council on December 29, 2012, which expired on December 28, 2015.
