Hasina wants an elected AL presidium
Awami League President Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the party's presidium members would have to be elected at the national council on July 24.
She also said transparent ballot boxes must be used in the polling that day.
Her remarks came at a meeting of the council preparatory committee at her political office in Dhanmondi, said party insiders.
The meeting chaired by her decided to invite all democratic and pro-liberation political parties to the council.
Party sources said the move has created uncertainty about the fate of some senior members of the AL Presidium, the highest policy-making body of the party, who are known as 'reformists'. And it made them apprehensive of their stay in the party.
Although the AL constitution provides that councillors elect party president, presidium members, general secretary, departmental secretaries and treasurer at a national council every three years, in practice, they (councillors) leave the matter to the party president's discretion.
Meeting sources said Sheikh Hasina even said nomination forms for the election would not be given to those who have not cleared the monthly contribution to the party. Usually a presidium member has to pay Tk 3,000 a month and other central leaders Tk 2,000. But most of them have not done that.
Briefing newsmen after the preparatory body's meeting, AL spokesperson and Joint General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said transparent ballot boxes would be used this time for electing party leadership.
The party chief has already asked them to prepare ballot papers to this end, he said.
A three-member Election Commission headed by veteran AL leader MA Mannan would conduct the election, said Ashraf, who is also LGRD and cooperatives minister.
Asked whether he would be a candidate for the post of general secretary, Ashraf said normally none becomes a candidate for the post. Rather, the councillors authorise the party chief to decide on the matter.
In reply to a question, he said they do not have any fund for the council. But cabinet members, lawmakers and party leaders are making donation for this. Estimates of the amounts and the expenditures would be kept for approval by the AL Central Working Committee at its next meeting.
Party sources said the meeting fixed Tk 25,000 for presidium members and Tk 10,000 for other central leaders as donation for the council. It also decided that donation from AL lawmakers and others including well-wishers of the party would be appreciated. Moreover, around 55,000 councillors will have to pay Tk 200 each.
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