ALCWC to get bigger

The Awami League Central Working Committee has approved a proposal for increasing the number of the committee members to 81 from 73.

According to the proposal, four more posts for presidium members, one for joint secretary, one for organising secretary and two for members would be created.

The decision was made yesterday at the last meeting of the existing committee with party President Sheikh Hasina in the chair. The meeting was held at the Gono Bhaban.

The meeting also approved the list of councillors who would be elected by the party's next leadership at its 20th triennial council, scheduled to be held on October 22-23 at the city's Suhrawardy Udyan.

The central working committee, the apex decision-making forum of the party, is now comprised of the president, the general secretary, 13 presidium members, 19 secretaries, two deputy secretaries, three joint general secretaries, seven organising secretaries, one treasurer and 26 members.

The party held its last (19th) triennial council on December 29, 2012, which expired on December 28 last year.

The meeting approved an amendment to the party constitution with the provision of imposing restrictions on the family members of war criminals and Bangabandhu's killer to do AL politics, said sources.

Besides, Sheikh Hasina was treated as the party's main asset at the party's draft declaration.

Meeting sources said names of Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby, son of Sheikh Rehana, and Saima Wazed Putul, daughter of Sheikh Hasina, were dropped from councillor list. Earlier, they were named as councillors.

But Sheikh Rehana and Sajeeb Wazed Joy, prime minister's son and also her ICT adviser, will join the council as councillors.

Sources said the meeting also finalised a three-member election commission for the council. Prime Minister's Economic Affairs Adviser Mashiur Rahman would be the chief election commissioner, while retired secretary Mohammad Rashidul Alam and AL Advisory Council Member advocate Yusuf Hossain Humayun would work as commissioners.

At her introductory speech, Hasina said the upcoming council would be held with an objective of organising the party to stay in power, aimed at completing the unfinished tasks to build a hunger- and poverty-free country by 2021, reports BSS.

“Bangladesh is progressing fast in every sector and rural people are enjoying the benefit of economic development as the Awami League is in power successively. We have to maintain the continuity and the party leaders and workers must remember it,” she said.

Hasina said the council would bring necessary amendments to the party's declaration and constitution to include special directions and goals to make the country completely poverty- and hunger-free by 2021 and a developed one by 2041.

She said the council has created an unprecedented enthusiasm among the people, as it is very important in terms of ascertaining the next course of development path of the country towards prosperity.

The people of the country are convinced that only the Awami League can give them socioeconomic prosperity and fulfil their expectations. The party has contribution to every aspect of socioeconomic development ranging from poverty alleviation to food security, education and health services, she said.

The PM said the whole world acclaim Bangladesh's success in poverty alleviation which was possible due to the pragmatic programmes and policies adopted by the Awami League. So it is the responsibility of party to attain the remaining goals to build Bangladesh as a hunger- and poverty-free nation, she said.

The AL president said party leaders and workers at all levels should remember that they do politics for the people. So, they have to take oath once again for devoting them to the welfare of the people, she said.

Hasina said the party's new constitution would have directives about the formation of different committees at the grassroots level. All committees at the grassroots would be based on current demographic size of the areas.