AL mulls expelling Zahangir for life
Zahangir Alam, the suspended mayor of Gazipur City Corporation, is likely to be expelled for life from the Awami League.
A secretary-level meeting of the ruling party, held at the party president's Dhanmondi office yesterday with General Secretary Obaidul Quader in the chair, recommended the action against Zahangir, said sources.
AL Joint General Secretary Bahauddin Nasim proposed Zahangir's permanent expulsion and the meeting unanimously supported it.
Nasim said even after getting the party's amnesty, Zahangir was working against the party and so he should be expelled for life. Nasim then mentioned the terms and conditions of the amnesty.
The meeting resolution will be sent to AL President Sheikh Hasina for the final decision regarding the suspended mayor, said sources.
Zahangir, elected Gazipur mayor in 2018 on the AL ticket, also became the general secretary of the party's Gazipur city unit.
On November 19, 2021, he was expelled from the party after he was heard in a viral footage making derogatory remarks on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and questioning the number of the Liberation War martyrs.
Seven days after his expulsion, the government suspended him as the GCC mayor. The ruling party, however, granted him amnesty on January 21 this year on the condition that any further violation of organisational rules by him would be deemed unforgivable.
In the latest development, ignoring the party directive, Zahangir decided to run for the Gazipur city polls to be held on May 25, against AL candidate Azamat Ullah Khan.
The Election Commission later cancelled his nomination as Zahangir was a defaulter as a loan guarantor. Now he is campaigning for his mother Zaida Kahtun, an independent mayoral candidate.
Yesterday's meeting also discussed the feuds within the party in Rajshahi, Barisal and Sylhet ahead of the city corporation polls and opined that central leaders should sit with the grassroots to resolve the internal conflicts.
A central leader told the meeting that unity within the party is needed before the national election slated for January next, said sources.
The meeting discussed the preparation for the national polls and ways to strengthen the organisation. It also stressed the need for announcing complete district committees and all sub-committees.
The meeting summoned 27 district unit leaders at the party headquarters on Bangabandhu Avenue on May 18. Of the 27 units, nine failed to hold councils on time even after the expiry of the incumbent committees.
On the other hand, councils were held in another 18 districts but these units didn't announce full committees within 45 days, which is a violation of the party charter.
The meeting came up with two recommendations about the formation of sub-committees -- those involved in AL politics abroad and not active in the country shouldn't get into sub-committees; immediate-past Chhatra League leaders can't hold posts in sub-committees before serving the party for three to four years.
The meeting also discussed the anti-government agitations of the BNP and opined that the opposition party might go for destructive activities to foil the polls and all have to stay alert to its evil design, said sources.
The meeting decided to hold colourful celebrations of Sheikh Hasina's homecoming day on May 17 across the country. On this day in 1981, Hasina returned after six years in exile, losing her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of her family members in the bloodbath of 1975.
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