The ruling Awami League is organising a special extended meeting at the prime minister's official residence Ganabhaban today, Sunday, to activate the grassroots leaders and activists ahead of the next parliamentary election.
Leaders of all levels and public representatives have been called in the wake of the elections, the movement of the opposition including BNP and the strong activities of the western countries over the election.
Sources in Awami League said it would be difficult for them to win without a united Awami League if BNP participates in the election. Awami League needs to be united too if BNP wants to resist elections.
As a result, the party has to be more organised compared to the previous times if it wants to keep dominance on the streets as well as in the election.
So grassroots leaders have been called to inject enthusiasm among them in a bid to deliver an electoral message.
Awami League policymakers said the conflicts inside Awami League and at the grassroots level have intensified during the 15-year term of the party. Many grassroots leaders may have grievances. Misunderstanding may be resolved if their grievances are expressed in front of party chief Sheikh Hasina. If any intervention is required, that may also come up for discussion in today's meeting. So the meeting is important.
Besides, the activities of the western countries including the US and massive propaganda in the social media over the election have been creating confusion among the grassroots leaders and activists.
Awami League president and prime minister Sheikh Hasina will deliver a speech on these issues with guideines. The government has huge achievement in development during its 15-year-rule. Guidelines will be issue to counter any propaganda.
Awami League organising secretary SM Kamal, speaking to Prothom Alo, said grassroots leaders are keen to get guidelines from the party chief Sheikh Hasina.
They will speak openly to the party chief, he said, adding that this extended meeting has been called to organise and unite the party further. The extended meeting is scheduled to start at 10:00am today, Sunday.
Alongside the central leaders, district, metropolitan city, upazila, thana and municipality level Awami League presidents and general secretaries will attend the meeting. Top leaders of Awami League associate bodies and related organisations will also attend the meeting.
Members of parliament, zila parishad and upazila chairmen, city corporation and municipality mayors will also attend the meeting.
Party sources said some 3,000 seats have been arranged at Ganabhaban.
Khulna district Awami League president Harun or Rashid, speaking to Prothom Alo on Saturday, said he has reached Dhaka. He hopes leaders from across the country will return home with new enthusiasm after the meeting.
Awami League leaders said guidelines will be given on four issues. Reports on organising activities will be presented in the meeting.
Discussions will be held as to how the programmes will be observed till the next national election. A strong message will be given to work for the party-nominated candidates in the national election forgetting the internal conflicts.
Besides, the electioneering rallies of party president Sheikh Hasina outside Dhaka will also be discussed.
Awami League held a meeting with grassroots leaders and public representatives at Ganabhaban in 2017 ahead of the 11th parliamentary election.
Party sources said the party chief in the beginning will deliver a speech of guidelines. Later, leaders from divisional level and important districts will be allowed to deliver their speeches. Afterwards, the party chief will deliver the concluding speech.
Awami League publicity sub-committee and electioneering cell will provide some materials including CD-books to the grassroots leaders.
Preferring not to be named, a central Awami League leader said the law enforcing agencies played the key role to control BNP after the party boycotted the election in 2014.
The party had not faced any challenge in the election of 2018. This time, there have been counter programmes against the movement of the opposition. In such a situation, the leaders need to be active. That is the purpose of the meeting.
Party sources said preparations are on to take the Awami League leaders and activists to the streets within short notice. Internal conflict is the main obstruction behind this.
The main conflict is who is going to get the nomination in the next election. During the peace rally on 27 July, there was a clash between supporters of Dhaka-2 constituency MP Quamrul Islam and Keraniganj upazila parishad chairman Shahin Ahmed. Quamrul Islam is MP for three terms. Shahin Ahmed wants nomination there.
Awami League joint general secretary Mahbub Ul Alam Hanif said the party chief Sheikh Hasina will deliver guidelines to unite Awami League. He hopes the mental strength of leaders will be boosted further after the extended meeting.