The historic Suhrawardy Udyan and the surroundings of the historic place in capital Dhaka remained warm amid festivity with the gathering of thousands of leaders, activists and well-wishers of the ruling Bangladesh Awami League on its 21st National Council-2019 on Friday. The entire Suhrawardy Udyan was filled with leaders, activists and supporters of Awami League, who came to join the function from across the capital Dhaka and elsewhere in the country. They gathered at the venue despite the cold wave now sweeping over the country.
They started gathering at the venue since the morning and the Suhrawardy Udyan and its surroundings became the most crowded place in the afternoon.
As a result, Friday afternoon became almost a festival celebrated by thousands of people. AL President Sheikh Hasina, also the Prime Minister, inaugurated the two-day council of the country’s oldest political party at 3:05pm. Sheikh Hasina launched the council by hoisting the national flag and the party flag, and releasing pigeons and balloons.
Hasina hoisted the national flag while AL general secretary Obaidul Quader raised the party flag at the Suhrawardy Udyan where Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered his historic March 7 Speech, and the Pakistani occupation forces surrendered on December 16, 1971. Later, a cultural programme began with the presentation of the council’s theme song by a youthful ensemble.
Some 15,000 councillors and delegates took part in the council as invitees while innumerable others also gathered there. Leaders of other political parties and representatives of various professions also joined the inaugural session of the council. The main stage of the council was shaped like a boat, the electoral symbol of the party. The digital stage looked like a big boat floating on the mighty Padma River.
The venue and its surroundings were decorated with banners and festoons highlighting the government’s major successes and development projects. The council was streamed through 28 LED screens at the venue. The council session will be held at the Institution of Engineers today (Saturday) to elect the next committee of the ruling party for a three-year term. Some 7,500 councillors from across the country will attend the council session. Sheikh Hasina will remain as the party’s president for the ninth straight terms as there is still no alternative to her, said party sources. They also hinted that Obaidul Quader will remain as AL general secretary for the second consecutive term.
At the 21st council, the number of women in AL central committee will increase from the existing 15 as the Representation of the People Order 1972 stipulates that all registered political parties have to increase the proportion of female representation in their committees to 33 percent by 2020. Senior leaders who will get posts in the government are most unlikely to get vital posts of the party, the sources said.
The previous council held in October 2016 elected Sheikh Hasina as the party president and Obaidul Quader as its general secretary in the 81-member central working committee of Awami League. Sheikh Hasina has been at the helm of Awami League for the last 38 years (since 1981). The party was founded at Rose Garden in Dhaka on June 23, 1949.