Ready for a grand gathering

Though the ruling Awami League said it will hold its 22nd national council in a simple manner, yesterday's scenario at Suhrawardy Udyan hinted at a huge gathering. The scene was set for a festive and secure programme today.

At least one-fifth of the 68-acre park, one of the most historical places for Awami League rallies, was covered by pandals. Thousands of chairs and open spaces with giant screens were being arranged for the leaders and activists who will join the council from every corner of the country.

According to party members, AL is spending Tk 10 lakh less than the previous council as an austerity measure and did not invite any foreign guests.

However, the ruling party has invited all registered political party leaders, including its major rival BNP. Yesterday, a delegation headed by AL's deputy office secretary Abu Sayem went to BNP's central office and invited three standing committee members -- Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Abdul Moyeen Khan and Nazrul Islam Khan.

However, BNP sources said the leaders may not join AL's council when hundreds of BNP leaders and activists, including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, are in jail.

Centring the council, police put the area under CCTV surveillance and set control rooms and archways in all entry points. A dog squad has also been arranged with the presence of Rab and Swat forces in the area.

Police and Rab officials said there is no specific threat in terms of security during the council. However, security has been deployed keeping several earlier attacks on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, including the grenade attack on August 21, 2004, in mind.

"We are trying to create a festive atmosphere for the AL council," said Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq.

Earlier, DMP advised city dwellers to not use roads near the venue on the day of the council.

Yesterday, the udyan was opened only for AL leaders and activists who were involved in different sub-committees to prepare for the council.

"Awami Swechchhasebak League leaders will be in charge of maintaining the discipline tomorrow [today]," said Jahangir Kabir Nanak, joint secretary of Awami League.

He also mentioned that drinking water, three medical camps and three ambulances have been arranged in case of any emergency.

Asked about the expectation from the council, he said the PM has been leading the party for 42 years and she knows the most about the party members from all the areas, including the villages.

She will take the final decision on relevant issues by considering all the aspects, added Nanak.

Nanak also said the PM will give instructions about the upcoming national polls and the vision of "Smart Bangladesh".

Wishing anonymity, a Jubo League leader, who was a former top leader of Bangladesh Chhatra League, told The Daily Star that none of the councillors and delegates will have any say about the second top leadership post.

"All will be done by the PM herself," he said.

During yesterday's visit to Suhrawardy Udyan, this correspondent found hundreds of placards, containing greetings from city leaders, displayed around the venue. While entering the site from the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, several photos of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, son Sajib Wazed Joy and daughter Saima Wazed Putul were found displayed.

The AL council venue remembered the four national leaders -- wartime acting president Syed Nazrul Islam, prime minister Tajuddin Ahmed and cabinet ministers M Mansur Ali and AHM Qamruzzaman.

The main stage were adorned with photos of AL's four top founding leaders -- Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, Shamsul Huq, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy and Abdur Rashid Tarkabagish.

The 22nd national council will be held with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as its longest-serving president. The party has had eight chiefs and nine secretaries since its founding on June 23, 1949.

Hasina has served the party for the highest time -- nine consecutive terms for the last four decades since her election to the position on February 16, 1981.

The venue also incorporated the government's development activities, including the metro rail, Padma Bridge, Bangabandhu satellite, Karnaphuli tunnel, and nuclear power plants. The lake inside the venue was cleaned and some boats (electoral symbol of AL) were floating with slogans written on them.

AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, said the party wants to give a message to the country's people that AL is standing by them and will continue to do so in the future, by holding the national council.

He also said Awami League is the only political party in the country that practices democracy within the party.

"I don't know of any other party holding regular councils in line with its constitution," he said at a press conference at AL's Bangabandhu Avenue central office.

Responding to a question, Quader said, "I am not a perfect leader. There may be mistakes on my part while performing my duties. Big parties have failures too, along with their successes."