LIVE: Awami League's 20th council
The 20th triennial council of Bangladesh Awami League, country’s oldest party that started holding the hand of Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani, has begun at the Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka this morning.
5:16pm: Second session of first day of AL council ended with the concluding speech of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
4:30pm: Local leaders of Awami League district level leaders address the second session of the council.
4:15pm: Leaders of AL-led 14 party alliances speak at the occasion.
4:00pm: AL General Secretary and Public Admin Minister Syed Ashraful Islam addresses the second session of the council.
3:00pm: Second session of the council’s first day starts with the speech of AL President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
2:00pm: PM Hasina finishes her speech announcing a recess to the programme.
1:52pm: PM Hasina vows to alleviate poverty from Bangladesh and transform the country to a developed one by 2041.
1:50pm: PM Hasina reiterates her government's stance of zero tolerance to terrorism and says no one would be allowed to use Bangladesh's soil for insurgent acts against any country.
1:28pm: Despite all the attacks on Awami League, the party stands strong due to the sacrifices of its grassroots level leaders and activists, PM Hasina says.
1:25pm: PM Hasina commemorates Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the four national leaders Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed, Captain Mansur Ali and A H M Quamruzzaman, and AL founder Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani.
READ MORE: History of Awami League
1:20pm: Bangladesh PM and AL President Sheikh Hasina begins her speech congratulating all leaders and activists of her party and thanking all guests who have participated in the party's council.
12:00pm: Dr Vinay Prabhakar MP, vice-president of Indian ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), terms Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina a rare leader of the entire subcontinent.
11:30am: The invited foreign delegates are now presenting their speech one by one.
11:20am: AL leader Dr Dipu Moni presents her speech welcoming the invited foreign delegates to the AL Council.
11:17am: Syed Ashraful Islam claims that no other political party in the world has made as much sacrifices for the welfare of the country as AL.
11:15am: AL General Secretary and Public Administration Minister Syed Ashraful Islam presents the General Secretary's Report.
10:58am: AL presidium member and Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim begins welcome speech.
10:50am: All participants stand for a minute of silence in remembrance of the people, both Bangladeshi and foreign nationals, who lost their lives in different incidents including the road accidents and militant attacks.
10:40am: Recitations from the Holy Gita, Holy Bible and Holy Tripitaka are made.
10:38am: Recitation from the Holy Quran ends.
10:36am: Recitation from the Holy Quran begins.
10:35am: Cultural programme ends.
10:20am: A cultural programme begins.
10:15am: Awami League President Sheikh Hasina inaugurates the party's 20th triennial council after the national anthem is being sung.
10:05am: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also the president of Awami League, arrives at the venue.
10:00am: The formalities of the council begin. A festive mood is in the grounds and Suhrawardy Udyan is covered in a tight blanket of security.
9:50am: Councilors, leaders, activists of Awami League and invited delegates are entering the venue from all entrances through long queues.
8:30am: Dhaka University is already full to the brim with the Awami League activists and supporters.
8:15am: Shahbagh remains sealed off from Farmgate area, Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue and Bangla Motor. People are walking to reach thier destination. Many council attendents are walking too.