The ruling Awami League (AL) is planning a major reshuffle in the AL Central Working Committee (ALCWC), the highest policy-making body, in its upcoming 20th Triennial National Council Session scheduled for March 28. According to party insiders, some major changes can be expected in different party forums, besides induction of several new faces in the Central Executive Committee, picked from among dedicated members, who have been active in party activities. The number of executive members, especially posts for women members, will go up, thus expanding the size of the National Executive Committee, party insiders said. The party may announce an 81-member Central Executive Committee through the Council, party sources said.
The ALCWC currently has 73 member, namely President, General Secretary, 13 Presidium members, 19 Secretaries, two Deputy Secretaries, three Joint General Secretaries, seven Organising Secretaries, one Treasurer and 26 members. The AL authorities have also decided to increase the posts of Joint General Secretaries, Organising Secretaries and Departmental Secretaries, while dropping some incumbent leaders for their unsatisfactory performances through the Triennial Council.
Two incumbent Joint General Secretaries out of three and five Organizing Secretaries out of seven may be dropped from their respective positions, said sources close to AL Presidium member and Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday.    
When contacted, AL Presidium Member Kazi Zaffarullah said, “Yes, this time the party high-ups will bring major changes in its Central Executive Committee, substantially increasing posts of women members in the committee.”
He remarked that AL, as the oldest political organization in the country, has a large number of leaders and workers across the country and thus, the size of Executive Committee should be increased. AL joint general secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif stated, “I can’t comment on the size of the new committee, but it will definitely be expanded.”
AL Office Secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap told the correspondent yesterday that posts of two Joint General Secretaries, three Organizing Secretaries and some Departmental Secretaries including ICT, Manpower may be created in the coming 20th Council session.    
However, Sheikh Hasina, who has been at the party’s helm since 1980 and led it to power thrice, would retain her position unchallenged. The party’s incumbent General Secretary and Public Administration Minister Syed Ashraful Islam is slated to take charge as General Secretary for the third consecutive time through the Council, sources said.
Syed Ashraf was first elected as General Secretary of AL through its 18th council in 2009. AL held its last (19th) Triennial Central Council on December 29, 2012, which expired on December 28, 2015, according to the party Constitution.
The ALCWC, on September 11 last year, decided to create three more divisional units—Mymensingh, Faridpur and Comilla. So, three more Organising Secretaries, each assigned to a particular division, have now to be included in the upcoming Central Committee through the Council. Besides, the number of organisational units will increase as the party has decided to split its Dhaka city unit committee into two and form new city units for Mymensingh, Faridpur and Comilla. The inaugural session of the March 28 Triennial Council will take place in the Capital’s Suhrawardy Udyan at 10 am. The second session will be held at the adjacent Institution of Engineers, where councillors and delegates will elect the new leadership.
Meanwhile, the party has undertaken an elaborate preparation to hold its Council session successfully. In this regard, some AL seniors have become quite active in party activities in a bid to secure a better position in the Central Executive Committee.  For the first time, the party will hold its 20thNational Council after completing its district council sessions, which are nearing completion, sources added.