Party sources said its policymakers are in a dilemma of whether to concentrate on revamping the party units across the country by resolving the disputes before the next elections or to dedicate themselves to revving up a combined opposition movement for reforms in the caretaker government and electoral systems.

They said long-standing factional conflicts in many a district unit seems to be getting worse as the general election slated for early 2007 approaches.

In a bid to resolve squabbles at the grassroots, an AL Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting had asked its seven organising secretaries to assess the organisational situation in the districts units. A few months have passed since the direction, but none of the seven has come up with any report.

"It's true we have not submitted any report yet, but we have verbally informed the party president about the status of the district units," AL Organising Secretary Saber Hossain Chowdhury said.

But, referring to the task assigned by the CWC, another organising secretary told The Daily Star, "These are but empty words. Actually, we don't have the power to take any such organisational step."

The party in its last council opted for seven organising secretaries, instead of one, expressly to bolster up organisational activities. Six of them deal with the six administrative divisions and the seventh looks after greater Rangpur. But the initiative is yet to make any positive impact on the party's organisational strength.

Sources said top leaders of more than 30 district and numerous thana units are locked in acute factional conflicts. Apart from that, the relations between the party's general secretary and a number of presidium members have been anything but normal since formation of the present central committee in December 2002.

Political observers believe internal feud at district and thana levels was one of the causes of the election debacle in 2001, when rebel candidates fought against AL candidates in at least 50 constituencies.

Internal strife is at its worst in Comilla, Noakhali, Feni, Cox's Bazar, Naraynganj, Manikganj, Narsingdi, Mymensingh, Habiganj, Jessore, Kushtia, Patuakhali, Barisal, Pirojpur, Barguna, Rajshahi, Bogra, Rangpur, Gaibandha and Nilphamari district units.

The party has missed at least five deadlines since March 2003 to hold councils of the district units.

According to AL sources, councils of 39 district units have been held, 28 of which have received approval of the central committee. The rest have just a president and a general secretary as office bearers.

Councils of another 33 district committees are yet to be held.

There are some district units that saw their last councils eight to 10 years ago. For instance, the last council of Barisal district was held 10 years ago.

However, referring to the intra-party strife, Saber said, "It's not that serious. The party now is more organised and united than any other time."

He said, "We are trying to convince the workers to work hard for the next elections. Once we return to power, we will take care of those who may feel aggrieved at party decisions."

The AL central committee had to postpone the scheduled councils of Comilla, Narayanganj, Nilphamari and Chittagong city units. Top leaders of Dhaka and Chittagong city units are engaged in bitter disputes over establishing supremacy.

Despite intervention of the party chief, Sheikh Hasina, the long-drawn-out row between Dhaka City AL President Mohammad Hanif and General Secretary Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya is yet to subside.

"The dispute between Hanif and Maya has escalated in recent months and a settlement seems to be very unlikely," said an AL presidium member.

Talking to The Daily Star, a senior AL leader said, "For the party, it's more important to put its own house in order first, before launching an anti-government movement. With the next election only one and a half years away, we'd better inject energy into all organisational units."

On the conflicts in the very centre, a leader preferring anonymity said, "Relations between a number of presidium members and the party general secretary and some central leaders are not good."

"Presidium members feel they are not being deprived of due participation in decision making. Many decisions, including the declaration of the April 30 deadline for depositing the government last year, were taken keeping them in the dark," he added.