Abu Jakir, Dhaka: After the coronavirus-enforced hiatus of over five months, ruling Awami League (AL) has decided to revive organisational activities on a limited scale and form full-fledged committees of different units with dedicated leaders and activists, party sources said.
AL high-ups think that there is no alternative to have full-fledged committees of its different units and associated bodies to further strengthen the organisation, they added.
Almost all organisational activities of the party remained suspended for over five months as Covid-19 pandemic forced many leaders and workers to stay home while others to stand by the affected people.
As the situation is improving gradually, the party high-ups have decided to resume organisational activities on a limited scale by following proper health guidelines, the sources said.
The party has so far completed council sessions in 31 organisational districts out of 78, and only six of them have got full-fledged committees.
The remaining districts have been asked to form full committees and submit these to the AL office secretary by September 15, the sources said.
AL Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said on Thursday they will carry out organisational activities across the country on a limited scale from this month to make the organisation stronger.
“We could not complete district council sessions and form full-phase committees in different units due to coronavirus pandemic. Now the party has decided to complete the tasks gradually,” he said.
Presidents and secretaries of different units of the party have been asked to form the full committees and submit those to the party office, Hanif added, saying, “Our party chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will approve those after proper scrutiny”.
Talking to this correspondent AL Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua said there will be no room for opportunists or BNP-Jamaat elements in the new committees of different units.
“This time we are very much cautious about inducting new members in any committee, especially in the party’s central sub-committees. Unit secretaries concerned will be responsible if wrongdoers or opportunists get berths in their committees,” he said.
AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Wednesday instructed presidents and secretaries of the party’s district and city units and its associate bodies to submit their full-phase committees to the party office by September 15.
“All incomplete district and city units and associate bodies of AL must submit their full-phase committees to the party office within the September 15 deadline,” he said.
The AL general secretary also directed the presidents and secretaries of different units to remain alert while forming committees so that opportunists such as Regent Hospital Chairman Shahed Karim don’t get chance to enter any of the new committees.
Shahed was a member of the AL’s International Affairs Sub-Committee and he was arrested for his alleged involvement in issuing fake COVID-19 test certificates.
Obaidul Quader also called upon his party collogues to give chances to dedicated and committed partymen in the new committees.
Some leaders also said the AL will again conduct cleansing drive to restore discipline within the party. Several influential leaders of the party and its associate bodies were ousted or arrested during the previous drive that started on September 18, 2019.
The drive against corrupt leaders and casino business was the most talked-about issue of the past year in which several leaders were found to be involved in running casino business in the capital.
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