Grassroots want Joy in leadership post
The grassroots leaders want to see Awami League President Sheikh Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy in the party's leadership position.
They also believe Sheikh Hasina should continue to lead the party as there is no alternative to her.
Eight district leaders from eight divisions and two leaders from the United Kingdom and the United States addressed the second session of the AL national council's inaugural day yesterday.
Of them, Sylhet AL General Secretary Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury said, "Sajeeb Wazed Joy is the main architect of Digital Bangladesh. So we want to see him hold important portfolio in the party."
The term “Digital Bangladesh” came to light first in the 2008 election manifesto of the AL. It is an idea that focuses on the use of information technology in administrative work and governance to ensure transparency at all levels of the society.
At the session, the discussion on bringing Joy to the party's leadership position was started by AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam.
After Joy took his seat on the dais, Ashraf, seated next to Sheikh Hasina, stood up and requested Joy to stand up, saying, “Everyone wants to see you.”
He added, "We are old enough. You [Joy] will have to lead Bangladesh in future. Youths like Joy will lead the country as well as politics."
"Joy has come. His friends will come too and they will steer the country forward."
After Ashraf's remarks, Joy stood up and waved to the audience amid huge applause.
Of the district leaders, Khulna AL President Harun-ur-Rashid said Joy should be in a respectable position in the party. "We want to see Joy in a respectable party position in this council as part of efforts to build future leadership."
Harun, however, said Awami League's enemy lies within the party. "We should discuss and sort out the problems within our party but not in public forum."
He alleged the top leaders do not discuss with the grassroots any development activities by the government.
The grassroots leaders made their speeches after lunch while Sheikh Hasina, also the prime minister, and Joy, who is the PM's ICT adviser, were present on the dais.
Earlier in the morning, Hasina inaugurated the two-day council at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan.
Dhirendra Debnath Shambhu, Borguna AL president, said Joy's role in building Digital Bangladesh is incomparable.
"The nation is eagerly waiting to see a respectable position for him," he said. But, he added, Sheikh Hasina will have to continue leading the party from the front.
This view was echoed also by Bogra AL President Momtaj Uddin, Gopalganj AL President Chowdhury Imdadul Huq, Chittagong (North) AL General Secretary Abdus Salam, UK Awami League General Secretary Syed Sajedur Rahman and AL's US chapter President Siddikur Rahman.
Today, 6,570 councillors will elect the party's next leadership for three years and approve amended party declaration and charter.
The second day's programme will begin at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) at 9:00am today.
Besides the party president and general secretary, 11 presidium members, one treasurer and 31 secretaries, including three joint general secretaries, and seven organising secretaries, will be elected.
For the election, the AL formed a three-member election commission led by Mashiur Rahman, an adviser to the PM.
At the beginning of the second day's programme, AL high-ups would hear grassroots leaders. After that, the commission will dissolve the existing central committee to pave the way for the new one.
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