Next polls to be tough for AL

Awami League President Sheikh Hasina yesterday urged her party leaders to start campaigning for the national election, slated for January 2024.

She asked them to keep in mind that this election would be participatory and it would be a tough one for the AL.

Speaking at yesterday's meeting of AL Central Working Committee (ALCWC), the prime minister also said she would now spend more time for the party and start visiting the districts to attend rallies. The first event she will attend will be held at the Polo Ground in Chattogram on December 4.

The meeting of AL's highest decision-making body was held at the Gono Bhaban yesterday with Hasina in the chair. The meeting started at 4:00pm and ended around 10:15pm.

It was decided that AL's 22nd triennial council would be held at Suhrawardy Udyan on December 24 maintaining austerity. The inaugural ceremony of the council will be held in the morning, the council session would be in the afternoon, and a cultural function in the evening. Twenty-two sub-committees were formed to this end.

At yesterday's meeting, Hasina said no money should change hands over formation of AL committees.

Hasina said those who do not hanker after money and played a vital role during political changeover in 2007 should be given party posts.

The remarks came just two days after Obaidul Quader asked AL men to stop taking money in exchange for posts in the AL committee.

Hasina yesterday told the meeting that the BNP would take part in the election even though it was saying that it would not. She asked the AL leaders to keep that in mind.

"The leaders who were repeatedly elected MP should not assume that they would be nominated. Several surveys have already been conducted and more surveys will take place to find the fitting candidates," Hasina was quoted as saying by a central leader wishing anonymity.

AL's 21st national council was held on December 20 and 21, 2019, re-electing Sheikh Hasina and Obaidul Quader as its president and general secretary.

The previous ALCWC meeting was held on May 7. It was decided then that the AL would participate in the next national polls with its ideological partners of the 14-party alliance. At that meeting, the AL leaders demanded using electronic voting machines (EVM) in all the 300 constituencies.

At yesterday's meeting, AL leader Mirza Azam wanted to know what the party had decided on the councils for AL's front and like-minded organisations. In reply, Hasina said she and Quader would soon fix the dates for the councils, said meeting insiders.

UNB quoted the PM as saying, "Since we believe in democracy, the BNP can arrange meetings, processions and other programmes ... But those accused of being involved in killings, arson and militancy will be apprehended and given appropriate punishment. Because, they violated human rights by killing and burning people alive," she said.

Hasina further said people voted the AL to power time and again as they have faith in the party.

"But the people will not vote for the BNP men who are involved in terrorism, killing, arson, plundering of the public wealth, bomb and grenade attacks, and money laundering.

"The BNP men who were involved in killing and terrorism, including arson attacks and militancy, would have to face the music. They will not be spared," added Hasina.