AL will also remain active in the political field
Ruling Awami League has planned to simultaneously hold its central council and prepare for the next (12th) national parliamentary election.
The party has decided to hold six big rallies in Dhaka in November and December.
The Sheikh Hasina-led party will also take position strongly in the political field through different significant day-based programmes and party activities. At the same time, the 22nd national council of the party will be held on 24 December at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital city.
These decisions were taken at a meeting of AL Central Working Committee (ALCWC), the highest decision making body of the party.
The meeting was held on Friday afternoon at Ganabhaban with the party president and prime minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
During a break of the meeting, party general secretary Obaidul Quader talked to newspersons at the Ganabhaban entrance.
He said the 22nd council will be held on 24 December and a big rally will be held at the Polo Ground in Chattogram on 4 December. Party president Sheikh Hasina will attend the rally.
The ruling Awami League move came after the main opposition has been holding mass rallies in eight divisional cities in phases.
Party sources said prime minister Sheikh Hasina said she will attend various government activities in divisional and district headquarters in the next few months. Moreover, she will attend party rallies. Rallies will also be organised in Cox's Bazar and others cities.
De facto opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) started the divisional rallies from the Polo Ground in Chattogram on 12 October. Speaking to newspersons, Obaidul Quader said nearly 100,000 people attended the rally.
Party sources said Awami League wants to show larger gatherings at its rallies than BNP and so a rally is being organised at Polo Ground.
Seeking anonymity, some leaders who attended the meeting said the main discussion was to organise the party and take preparation for the 12th Jatiya Sangsad elections. The party has discussed consolidating its organisational strength.
As part of countering the BNP rallies and organisational power and showing party strength, Awami League organised Dhaka district's council at a ground adjacent to Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) at Agargaon in the capital today, Saturday. Preparations have been taken to show presence of a huge number of party leaders and activists. Earlier, Dhaka district council would be held in the upazilas surrounding the capital.
While briefing newsmen at his residence on Friday morning and drawing attention of BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, AL general secretary Obaidul Quader on Friday said, "BNP will be taught tomorrow, Saturday, what is a public gathering."
Following taking over power in 2009, Awami League did not need to show power in the street before any general election. Before the outbreak of coronavirus in March 2020, the party did not face any crisis. For a long time, the activities of the BNP was limited to organising indoor programmes including press conference and meeting.
In the beginning of this year, economic crisis started to worsen due to Russia-Ukraine war adding woes to the onslaught of coronavirus pandemic. As a result, the prices of fuel oil have increased. Power crisis has worsened. Factories have been facing gas crisis.
Sufferings of the people have intensified as prices of essentials have been skyrocketing abnormally. BNP has become active in waging movements outdoor mainly due to the price hike of fuel oil and daily essentials.
Focus on big rallies
Sources at the Awami League policymaking level said BNP's main target is to topple the government, not contesting in the next polls. As a result, they have no alternative but to show organisational strength on the street. Strategies are being adopted considering this to face the BNP, they added.
Speaking to Prothom Alo, a senior Awami League leader said they thought BNP will take to the streets in January or February next year. Clandestine discussions with them could have been held over the elections that time. But they started earlier and have been organising rallies with massive presence of people in a bid to show in and outside of the country that they have become the main political force. The government and the Awami League would not allow BNP that scope. Pressure on the party will be increased gradually. Besides, Awami League will organise the party.
Party sources further said a sort of discomfort and pressure has been created on the grassroots of Awami League as a huge number of people are attending the BNP rallies despite obstacles and pressure. AL grassroots leaders also want that their party should organise big rallies. Activities on important days and organisational councils are regular programmes. Awami League normally organises these event. There was no plan to ensure big gathering in these events. Now focus has been given on big rallies.
Among the two-month programmes in Dhaka, the 50th founding anniversary of Jubo League, the youth wing of Awami League, will be held on 11 November. Afterwards, five to six national councils of AL associate bodies will also be organised. Councils of Dhaka metropolitan north and south units might be held in the beginning of December. AL will organise a big procession to mark the victory day on 16 December.
Meeting sources also said the prime minister has ordered to hold councils of associate bodies soon. Otherwise the committees will be dissolved.
Preparation for elections
Sources at the AL meeting said the prime minister indicated that BNP would ultimately contest in the election. AL leaders will have to face huge challenges in the next election. She has already started selecting prospective candidates.
The prime minister in the meeting said Awami League is in power for 14 consecutive years and this is being highlighted negatively. But the development works that have been done have to be campaigned. A book is being published on the achievements of the government. That message has to be reached to the people while the misdeeds of BNP have to be reminded repeatedly.
Meeting sources said some leaders have pointed out the anti-government sentiments of the businessmen.
In response, prime minister Sheikh Hasina said businessmen could do business easily during the term of the incumbent government. They would never want BNP to come to power. She asked the leaders to increase communications with the professional bodies. She said the government has taken risks and procure coronavirus vaccines, paying in advance. The government has taken the risks thinking the welfare of the people. Besides, the government has provided stimulus package during the pandemic. The prime minister asked the leaders to publicise these achievements.
*This report, originally published in Published in Prothom Alo print and online editions, have been rewritten in English by Rabiul Islam.