The Awami League's 22nd national council is underway after Prime Minister and the party President Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the event this morning.

Earlier, the prime minister reached Suhrawardy Udyan around 10:20am. She inaugurated the council by hoisting the national flag and releasing a white pigeon and baloons.

AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader accompanied her at the time.

Since morning, thousands of leaders and activists from all over the country have been gathering on the premises of the historic Suhrawardy Udyan.

Although the first session of the conference was scheduled to start at 10:30am, leaders and activists of the AL and its front organisations started thronging the venue in processions from 7:00am.

Many of them came to the capital at night by buses, microbuses and launches from all over the country.

Talking to The Daily Star, some of the leaders said through this conference, they are expecting a strong leadership, who will play a strong role in organising the field-level workers ahead of the next national election.