BANGLADESH AWAMI LEAGUE NATIONAL COUNCIL TODAY

Stage is all set to hold the national council of Bangladesh Awami League at the Bangabandhu Int’l Conference Centre previously known as Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the capital today (Friday).With a vow to build up a 'Digital Sonar Bangla' and upholding the party's long 60-year image, the ruling Awami League is arranging its national council after more than six years. The AL President and PM Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the function at 9.30 am today with the participation of about 5500 party councilors form some 73 organisational district committees of the party and one thousand invited quests. 'Keeping the security issue for the Premier Sheikh Hasina in mind, a foolproof security arrangement will be ensured,' the chief of AL council preparatory sub-committee for discipline and volunteers, Captain (retd) ABM Tajul Islam, told newsmen at the conference venue yesterday noon.Alongwith the law enforcers, around 1500 volunteers belonging to the AL and other associate bodies will be engaged to extend the cooperation to the security personnel on the occasion, he added.In the meantime, the ALCWC has endorsed the amendment to the party constitution and menofisto, speeches of the Party President and General Secretary, and other programmes for the council session at the adjourned CWC meeting on Wednesday.Soon after the approval by the councilors, the modified papers will be submitted to the EC in line with the earlier requirements by July 25. Party sources indicate that more new faces would dominate the AL leadership emerging from the council.The present 73-member central committee consists of a President, a General Secretary, a 13-Member Presidium, three Joint-General Secretaries, seven Organisational Secretaries, 19 Departmental Secretaries, a Treasurer, two Deputy Secretaries and 26 General Members. A central leader, wishing not be named, said the AL President wants to bring dynamism in the party and energetic, young and dedicated party leaders and activists who played a very significant role while Hasina was in jail, will be evaluated. A group of former student leaders might come in the AL central committee in vital posts. Sheikh Hasina earlier announced at the party's central working committee meeting at Dhanmondi office to elect the party leadership through secret ballot and directed to ensure transparent ballot boxes system. There is a speculation that new faces would come in the AL Presidium - new ones would replace Syeda Johra Tajuddin, late Abdus Samad Azad and another two posts in Presidium. The provision of two posts for AL General Secretary is likely to be endorsed in the council. One General Secretary would perform his role as the AL's Spokesperson while the other would be assigned to oversee the organisational activities of the party.About the council, Obaidul Quader, the head of the management sub-committee of council preparatory committee, said, "All party leaders and activists are eagerly waiting to see Sheikh Hasina as the party Chief again. New leadership will come out from the valuable opinions of the councilors and the AL would also carry out such democratic norms in the council session."All preparations have been compete for the council. Earlier the triennial council session of the party was held on December 25-26, in 2002 with re-electing Sheikh Hasina as the party president and Abdul Jalil the General Secretary.Centering the council session, a festive mood prevails in the AL rank and file. Simultaneously leaders and activists of other political parties are keeping close eyes on it.