First day of AL council

Focus on GS post, Joy

The two-day 20th council session of ruling Awami League (AL) began yesterday with the grassroots leaders demanding an important position in the party’s policymaking level for Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of party president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The issue of party’s general secretary post was also on the focus as many council participants said Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader is a tough contender for incumbent general secretary and public administration minister Syed Ashraful Islam.  Most of the AL district leaders, speaking at the first session of the two-day council of the ruling party, said Joy should be given an important post in the party’s executive body to hear the voices and demands of the grassroots leaders and activists.   
Party President Sheikh Hasina listened to the speeches by her party’s district leaders at the extended opening session of the Awami Leagues’ 20th national council at Suhrawardy Udyan, where information and communications technology (ICT) expert and the Prime Minister’s ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wajed Joy was also present.
After district leaders had their say, AL General Secretary Syed Ashraf took the floor again to say Sajeeb Wazed Joy will be the next leader of the Bangladesh Awami League.
“Joy, please stand up, as the grassroots workers want to see you. You will have to take the responsibility of AL in the near future because we are growing old. Youths like joy will lead the country and the politics,” he said.
“Joy has come and his friends will come too and they will take the country forward,” the Awami League General Secretary said.
After Syed Ashraf’s call, Joy stood up and waved to the audience that was responded with huge applause from all.
Speaking at the session, Direndra Debnath Shambhu, president of the Barguna district AL, said Hasina should remain the party leader as long as possible and Joy should be her future replacement.
Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury, general secretary of the Sylhet district unit, emphasised that Joy was a youth with a clean image and dreamt of a digital Bangladesh. “We want to see him in the future party leadership,” Shafiqur Rahman said. Bagura district party president Mamtaj Uddin proposed that Joy should be inducted into the party leadership and given a suitable post in the party central committee. Gopalganj district AL president Chowdhury  Emdadul Haque said they wanted Joy in the party leadership, as he was from the family of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
“Joy will complete the unfinished development of Bangladesh,” Emdadul said. Meanwhile, the capital Dhaka wore a festive look yesterday as hundreds of councillors, delegates and ruling AL leaders thronged the historic Suhrawardy Udyan from early morning to join its 20th national council session.
The city’s main thoroughfares were decorated with colourful banners, gates, lights, and giant screens. Banners and festoons highlighted the successes of the AL government in various sectors.
Party president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the 20th council session at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan at 10:30 am.
AL leaders and workers from across the country gave a standing ovation and chanted slogans when Hasina stepped on to the stage.
The AL president hoisted the national flag, while its general secretary, and presidents and general secretaries of the party's 73 district units unfurled the party flag. The AL chief and party leaders also released balloons and pigeons to formally inaugurate the council programme amid huge fanfare and festivity.
The national anthem was played on loudspeakers followed by the party theme song, patriotic songs and performances by different groups.
AL Presidium Member and Health Minister Mohammad Nasim delivered the welcome speech, while Dr Hasan Mahmud and Dr Dipu Moni conducted the session with calls to take the country towards peace, democracy, development and progress.
The country's supreme leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and AL chief Sheikh Hasina were placed on a symbolic mast on the stage.
Meanwhile, the position of party’s general secretary was on discussion among the councilors and delegates.
The post is currently held by Syed Ashraf who was elected the general secretary of the party for the first time at the 18th council session held on July 24, 2009. The party held its last (19th) council on December 29, 2012.
Although the election to the AL general secretary post depends entirely on party President Sheikh Hasina, party insiders said Syed Ashraf’s reelection is almost certain as, what they said, there is no alternative to Ashraf at the time for the general secretary post.
However, it was widely reported after Wednesday’s Awami League Central Working Committee meeting that party presidium member, also the Road Transport and Bridges Minister, Obaidul Quader has been chosen to replace Ashraf as the general secretary of the AL.
The AL central leaders, vice-president of India’s ruling political party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Vinay Prabhakar Sahasrabuddhe, its leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Trinamool Congress leader Partha Chatterjee, Communist Party of China leader Zheng Xiaosoy, United Russia's leader Sergey Zheleleznyak, ex-prime minister of Nepal, KP Sharma Oli, Conservative Party of Canada leader Deepak Obhrai, Labour Party of Australia leader Hugh McDermott and Democratic Party of Italy leader Ugo Papi were also present at the first session. The session was followed by a cultural programme.
The second session of the conference will begin at the auditorium of the Engineers Institution of Bangladesh at 9:30 am today to elect the party’s new central committee. A total of 6,570 councillors will elect next party leadership for a 3-year tenure and also approve amended party charter. They will cast votes to elect the party president, general secretary, 11 presidium members, one treasurer and 31 secretaries, including three joint general secretaries and seven organising secretaries.

First day of AL council

Focus on GS post, Joy

The two-day 20th council session of ruling Awami League (AL) began yesterday with the grassroots leaders demanding an important position in the partys policymaking level for Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of party president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The issue of partys general secretary post was also on the focus as many council participants said Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader is a tough contender for incumbent general secretary and public administration minister Syed Ashraful Islam. Most of the AL district leaders, speaking at the first session of the two-day council of the ruling party, said Joy should be given an important post in the partys executive body to hear the voices and demands of the grassroots leaders and activists. Party President Sheikh Hasina listened to the speeches by her partys district leaders at the extended opening session of the Awami Leagues 20th national council at Suhrawardy Udyan, where information and communications technology (ICT) expert and the Prime Ministers ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wajed Joy was also present. After district leaders had their say, AL General Secretary Syed Ashraf took the floor again to say Sajeeb Wazed Joy will be the next leader of the Bangladesh Awami League. Joy, please stand up, as the grassroots workers want to see you. You will have to take the responsibility of AL in the near future because we are growing old. Youths like joy will lead the country and the politics, he said. Joy has come and his friends will come too and they will take the country forward, the Awami League General Secretary said. After Syed Ashrafs call, Joy stood up and waved to the audience that was responded with huge applause from all. Speaking at the session, Direndra Debnath Shambhu, president of the Barguna district AL, said Hasina should remain the party leader as long as possible and Joy should be her future replacement. Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury, general secretary of the Sylhet district unit, emphasised that Joy was a youth with a clean image and dreamt of a digital Bangladesh. We want to see him in the future party leadership, Shafiqur Rahman said. Bagura district party president Mamtaj Uddin proposed that Joy should be inducted into the party leadership and given a suitable post in the party central committee. Gopalganj district AL president Chowdhury Emdadul Haque said they wanted Joy in the party leadership, as he was from the family of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Joy will complete the unfinished development of Bangladesh, Emdadul said. Meanwhile, the capital Dhaka wore a festive look yesterday as hundreds of councillors, delegates and ruling AL leaders thronged the historic Suhrawardy Udyan from early morning to join its 20th national council session. The citys main thoroughfares were decorated with colourful banners, gates, lights, and giant screens. Banners and festoons highlighted the successes of the AL government in various sectors. Party president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the 20th council session at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan at 10:30 am. AL leaders and workers from across the country gave a standing ovation and chanted slogans when Hasina stepped on to the stage. The AL president hoisted the national flag, while its general secretary, and presidents and general secretaries of the partys 73 district units unfurled the party flag. The AL chief and party leaders also released balloons and pigeons to formally inaugurate the council programme amid huge fanfare and festivity. The national anthem was played on loudspeakers followed by the party theme song, patriotic songs and performances by different groups. AL Presidium Member and Health Minister Mohammad Nasim delivered the welcome speech, while Dr Hasan Mahmud and Dr Dipu Moni conducted the session with calls to take the country towards peace, democracy, development and progress. The countrys supreme leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and AL chief Sheikh Hasina were placed on a symbolic mast on the stage. Meanwhile, the position of partys general secretary was on discussion among the councilors and delegates. The post is currently held by Syed Ashraf who was elected the general secretary of the party for the first time at the 18th council session held on July 24, 2009. The party held its last (19th) council on December 29, 2012. Although the election to the AL general secretary post depends entirely on party President Sheikh Hasina, party insiders said Syed Ashrafs reelection is almost certain as, what they said, there is no alternative to Ashraf at the time for the general secretary post. However, it was widely reported after Wednesdays Awami League Central Working Committee meeting that party presidium member, also the Road Transport and Bridges Minister, Obaidul Quader has been chosen to replace Ashraf as the general secretary of the AL. The AL central leaders, vice-president of Indias ruling political party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Vinay Prabhakar Sahasrabuddhe, its leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Trinamool Congress leader Partha Chatterjee, Communist Party of China leader Zheng Xiaosoy, United Russias leader Sergey Zheleleznyak, ex-prime minister of Nepal, KP Sharma Oli, Conservative Party of Canada leader Deepak Obhrai, Labour Party of Australia leader Hugh McDermott and Democratic Party of Italy leader Ugo Papi were also present at the first session. The session was followed by a cultural programme. The second session of the conference will begin at the auditorium of the Engineers Institution of Bangladesh at 9:30 am today to elect the partys new central committee. A total of 6,570 councillors will elect next party leadership for a 3-year tenure and also approve amended party charter. They will cast votes to elect the party president, general secretary, 11 presidium members, one treasurer and 31 secretaries, including three joint general secretaries and seven organising secretaries.