Top AL leaders start 5-day cross-country tour Jan 15

Top leaders of the ruling Awami League will go on a cross-country tour for a major shake-up of the party units in all the 64 districts. The five-day tour begins on January 15, said an AL press release last night.

The AL's organisational drive comes at a time when the major opposition parties are planning to intensify the 'oust-government' campaign. It also follows intra-party conflicts, which surfaced in different areas of the country recently.

The party has formed 17 teams, each headed by a minister, an MP or a central leader, to undertake the tours simultaneously. Each team also includes other ministers, MPs and central leaders. Size of the teams varies from seven to 17-member.

During their visits, each of the teams will hold workers' meetings, public rallies and participate in mass contact programmes. The team leaders have been assigned to cover the areas, other than their own.

According to the tour schedule, AL Presidium member Syeda Zohra Tajuddin will lead the team No. 1, which will visit Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Cox's Bazar.

Foreign Minister Abdus Samad Azad will head team No. 2 to visit Noakhali, Brahmanbaria, Chandpur and Comilla (north and south).

Team No. 3, headed by Presidium member Abdul Mannan, MP, will go to Mymensingh, Jamalpur, Sherpur and Netrakona.

Forest and Environment Minister Syeda Sajeda Choudhury will lead team No. 4, scheduled to visit Meherpur, Chuadanga, Kushtia and Rajbari.

Team No. 5 will be headed by Presidium member Abdul Momin, MP, and it will visit Tangail, Kishoreganj, Gazipur and Dhaka.

Food Minister Amir Hossain Amu will lead team No. 6, to Chittagong (north and south), the Chittagong city, Feni and Laxmipur.

Water Resources Minister Abdur Razzak's team will visit Khulna city and district, Bagerhat and Satkhira.

Industries Minister Tofail Ahmed will lead his team to Bhola, Barisal and Jhalakathi.

Commerce Minister Abdul Jalil will head the team that will visit Jessore, Narail, Magura and Jhenidah.

PM's Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Suranjit Sengupta will lead his team to Shariatpur, Madaripur, Faridpur and Gopalganj.

The team to visit Manikganj, Munshiganj, Narayanganj and Narsingdi will be led by Presidium member Dr Mohammad Selim, MP.

Team No. 12 will visit Rangpur, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat and Kurigram under the leadership of joint secretary Shamsur Rahman Khan Shahjahan.

Another joint secretary Mozaffar Hossain Paltu will head a team for Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur and Nilphamari.

Aziur Rahman, also a joint secretary, will head the team to visit Bogra, Sirajganj, Pabna, Natore and Joypurhat.

Home Minister Mohammad Nasim will lead his team to Pirojpur, Patuakhali and Borguna.

Agriculture Minister Matia Choudhury will go with her team to Rajshahi city and district, Chapainawabganj and Naogaon.

Mayor of Dhaka city Mohammad Hanif will lead his team to Sunamganj, Sylhet, Moulvibazar and Habiganj.