Dhaka, October 23 (NIA): Scotching rumors that she is going to step down from the leadership of the ruling Awami League, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed was on Sunday unanimously elected as party President.
In the last couple of days she had urged the councilors to find a new leader, but in return faced proposals that asked her to remain the party chief for a lifetime.
With this, Hasina has been made chief of the party for the eighth time since 1981 when she was elected in absentia.
Hasina made it clear that she would not want to be party President for life. But so long as she is alive, she will nominate the leader of the party, she said.
In response to a clamor for the appointment her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, to an important office in the party ,Sheikh Hasina said that Joy is already having an important post as her Advisor on ICT.
Joy in turn said that it would not be proper for him to assume any position in the party while living in the United States as a US citizen. He however said that he would work for the party and the country. He has been responsible for the digitalization of Bangladesh.
Presidium member and Road Transport Minister Obaidul Quader was elected the new General Secretary of the party.
In her acceptance speech, Shaikh Hasina asked party cadres to prepare for the 2019 parliamentary elections and prevent the Bangladesh National Party (BNP) and the Jamaat e-Islami alliance from coming to power. The BNP, which boycotted the last elections, is thinking of contesting the next elections.
The party council ended with Hasina praising the outgoing General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam for his contribution to the party as her second-in-command for two terms since 2009.
A total of 6,570 councillors took part in the council session held at the Institute of Engineers, Bangladesh Sunday.
A number of eminent citizens and representatives of different parties, and some 60 foreign delegates attended the inaugural session of the Awami League’s council at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan on Saturday.
In the last couple of days she had urged the councilors to find a new leader, but in return faced proposals that asked her to remain the party chief for a lifetime.
Persistent Demand For Joy
Sylhet General Secretary Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury said, “Sajeeb Wazed Joy is the main architect of Digital Bangladesh. So we want to see him hold important portfolio in the party.”
The term “Digital Bangladesh” came to light first in the 2008 election manifesto of the AL. It is an idea that focuses on the use of information technology in administrative work and governance to ensure transparency at all levels of the society.
At the session, the discussion on bringing Joy to the party’s leadership position was started by AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam.
After Joy took his seat on the dais, Ashraf, seated next to Sheikh Hasina, stood up and requested Joy to stand up, saying, “Everyone wants to see you.”
“We are old. You [Joy] will have to lead Bangladesh in future. Youths like Joy will lead the country as well as politics.”
“Joy has come. His friends will come too and they will steer the country forward.”
After Ashraf’s remarks, Joy stood up and waved to the audience amid huge applause.
Of the district leaders, Khulna AL President Harun-ur-Rashid said Joy should be in a respectable position in the party.
“We want to see Joy in a respectable party position in this council as part of efforts to build future leadership.”
Harun, however, said Awami League’s enemy lies within the party. “We should discuss and sort out the problems within our party but not in a public forum.”
He alleged the top leaders do not discuss with the grassroots any development activities by the government.
Dhirendra Debnath Shambhu, Borguna AL president, said Joy’s role in building Digital Bangladesh is incomparable.
“The nation is eagerly waiting to see a respectable position for him,” he said. But, he added, Sheikh Hasina will have to continue leading the party from the front.
This view was echoed also by Bogra AL President Momtaj Uddin, Gopalganj AL President Chowdhury Imdadul Huq, Chittagong (North) AL General Secretary Abdus Salam, UK Awami League General Secretary Syed Sajedur Rahman and AL’s US chapter President Siddikur Rahman.
6,570 councillors will elect the party’s next leadership for three years and approve amended party declaration and charter.
