Quader’s third term or last-minute drama?

The ruling Awami League is holding its 22nd triennial council today, which is likely to be a formality to keep the status quo in the party's top leadership.

AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader has already said there will be no major changes in the AL rank and file.

Many AL leaders, however, believe that the party President, Sheikh Hasina, may make a surprise announcement about the next general secretary, the second highest position in the AL hierarchy. The belief stems from the fact that she has yet to give green signal to anyone for the post.

If Quader, who has been the general secretary since 2016, is reelected, he will hit a hat-trick. But he may not be available for the entirety of the three-year term as he may get entrusted with a very important position of the state in April next year.

Quader was reelected at the AL's last triennial council in December 2019. But if he is not elected again, AL presidium member Jahangir Kabir Nanak may become the general secretary, party insiders said, adding that the AL may hold an early council after the 12th national election, slated for January 2024.

Talking to reporters on Thursday, Quader said any major change in the AL central committee was highly unlikely.

"We may hold the next council [after this one] ahead of schedule following the national election. There might be a major reshuffle then."

He, however, shifted his stance yesterday, and said, "I have no problem working for the party even if my position is changed in the new committee."

He added that he had flaws like everyone else.

Several sources said the posts of joint general secretaries and organising secretaries might see new faces.

Current joint general secretaries Mahabubul Alam Hanif and Dipu Moni may become presidium members.

Organising Secretary Mirza Azam, Publicity and Publication Secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap, Liberation War Affairs Secretary Mrinal Kanti Das, and Cultural Secretary Asim Kumar Ukil are major contenders for the two posts.

The number of members of the AL Central Working Committee, the highest decision-making body, will not be increased as Hasina is against the idea of making the 81-member body larger.However, 20 to 25 new faces, mostly former student leaders and immediate-past leaders of the AL's front organisations, might be included in the committee, according to the sources.

They also said the ruling party is going to incorporate a new clause in its charter, making it mandatory to form full committees within 45 days of holding councils in districts, sources said.

The ruling party also decided to recognise Mohila Sramik League as an associate body, they added.

Leaders, activists, supporters and well-wishers of the AL are eagerly waiting to see whether Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's family members -- Sheikh Rehana, Saima Wajed Putul, Sajeeb Wazed Joy and Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby -- will be included in the party structure.

At a meeting last week, several senior members of the AL National Committee said Bangabandhu's family members should be included in the AL committee. In response, Hasina said that if any of them wishes so, he or she would be included in the AL apex body.

At today's council, Hasina, who has been leading the party since her return from exile in 1981, will be reelected as the AL president for the 10th time.

She will inaugurate the council at Suhrawardy Udyan at 10:30am.

Around 7,000 councillors and 14,000 delegates will vote to elect the AL office bearers in the session at the auditorium of Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh in the afternoon. A three-member election commission led by AL Advisory Council member Yusuf Hossain Humayun will conduct the election.

The AL's strategy for the next general election and declaration will be adopted at the council, and its election manifesto will be prepared in light of the adopted declaration.

At the event, Hasina will formally launch the AL's election campaign for the national polls.