AL prepares for 'manifold problems' next year

Awami League (AL) will take its future steps cautiously as the top party leaders fear that the party will have to deal with manifold problems next year.
Although the party has plans to speed up its activities for taking part in the next parliamentary election, it is yet to make it clear whether it will take part in the polls or not.
Besides, the party leaders are now in a dilemma about participating in the local government election scheduled for next year as the party chief did not show any interest in this regard.
Sources said most of the senior AL leaders are in favour of participating in the parliamentary election. But some pro-Hasina leaders might oppose it if Hasina is barred from participating in the polls after being convicted.
There are also apprehensions that senior Presidium member Amir Hossain Amu leading the pro-reform leaders might take over the party leadership.
"We shall make plans very cautiously. The Awami League Central Working Committee will take all the strategic decisions," AL Presidium member Tofail Ahmed told The Daily Star yesterday.
"The new year will be the year of holding a free and fair election. We sincerely hope that the electoral roadmap announced by the Election Commission (EC) will be successful," he said.
Sources in the party said the detained party chief did not show her interest in taking part in the local government election. But she said the party leaders would not be prevented from taking part in the election.
The AL Central Working Committee (ALCWC) will sit in the first week of January to discuss the matter along with other issues including observance of the homecoming day of Sheikh Hasina, trial of war criminals and taking part in the local government election.
Tofail said they would assist the EC in implementing the electoral roadmap. He also urged the caretaker government and the EC not to do anything which would hamper the implementation of the roadmap.
Sources said if Hasina is barred from contesting the polls after being convicted and the pro-reform faction take over the party leadership, the party might go for a movement either alone or with the help of its archrival BNP and other like-minded political parties to get the detained party chief and other leaders released.
However, sources said the party will continue its legal battle to free Hasina through legal procedure. It will also strengthen its campaign abroad to mount pressure on the caretaker government to free Hasina.
Sources said BNP Secretary General Khandakar Delwar Hossain called acting AL President Zillur Rahman recently and proposed sitting for a discussion.
The AL leader neither rejected nor accepted the proposal due to strategic reasons. If necessary, the party would consider the proposal, sources said.
The front organisations of the party might take initiatives to strengthen their movement across the country to put pressure on the government to free Hasina, AL sources said.
AL Organising Secretary Mahmudur Rahman Manna stressed the need for unity in the party adding that they hope the caretaker government would keep its commitment by holding a free and fair election by the end of next year.