C T Online Desk: Bangladesh Awami League (AL), an inseparable part of the Bangalee nation, today steps into the 75th year of its journey, which has been full of various hurdles.
Starting its journey from the historic Rose Garden in Old Dhaka on June 23, 1949, Awami League led the country’s war of independence in 1971 and played a strong role in all the democratic movements during both Pakistan and Bangladesh eras.
Awami League, one of the country’s oldest political parties, is celebrating its founding anniversary this year with a goal to assume office for the fourth consecutive term to maintain the ongoing development spree and build a Smart Bangladesh by 2041.
The next general election is scheduled to be held by January 2024.
Addressing a meeting of the AL Central Working Committee on Thursday, Prime Minister and AL President Sheikh Hasina directed the party leaders and activists to go to the people and woo them to cast votes in favour of the Boat symbol to maintain the ongoing development spree.
“None will be able to defeat a united Awami League. Work for the people and project the success of the government before the people to woo them for casting votes for the party in the next general election,” she said, asking them to end intra-party feud and revamp the organisational activities to thwart any evil attempt ahead of the polls.
Under the dynamic leadership of Sheikh Hasina, AL assumed office in 1996, 21 years after the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with most of his family members on August 15, 1975.
Overcoming a sea of hurdles, she also led the party in assuming office thrice in a row since 2009. She steered the country towards achieving the developing country status and turned the country a role model of development in the globe.
But, it seems that the traditional party is losing its hard-earned glory as some of its leaders and activists are allegedly indulged in killing, corruption, nepotism and other misdeeds.
Despite party President Sheikh Hasina’s directive to work for the people, the party apparently fails to control some of its rowdy leaders, shattering the dreams of the commoners.
Political analysts say the bright image of AL is being tainted for the misdeeds of some of its leaders and activists, including lawmakers, over establishing supremacy in their respective areas.
The organisational strength appears to weaken as some leaders, including ministers and lawmakers, are getting involved in corruption, crimes and killing, which have made the common people frustrated, they observed.
They also say AL has to receive bitter criticism for the price spiral of essential commodities, causing immense sufferings for the masses and slide in law-and-order situation.
On the eve of the party’s founding anniversary, the AL president in a message greeted the people as well as leaders and activists of the party living across the globe.
She urged her part men to remain prepared to thwart any kind of evil attempt and conspiracy against the country’s continued peace and democracy.
“Anti-liberation communal groups and anti-democracy domestic and foreign evil forces are still hatching conspiracies in various ways. I call upon the leaders and activists of all levels of the party to be ready to protect the continuity of development and democracy by confronting any conspiracy of this evil force unitedly,” she said.
In its 74-year history, AL led the 1952 Language Movement and fought successfully against exploitation, disparity and violation of basic human rights with a massive public support.
Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani and Shamsul Huq were unanimously elected president and general secretary respectively of the new political party that emerged as a rival of then ruling Muslim League.
The newly formed Awami League also elected Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as its joint secretary.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman came to the leadership of the party through the 1966 council session and became the unparalleled and undisputed leader of the Bangalee nation.
After the War of Liberation in 1971, Bangabandhu started working to build Bangladesh as a secular and prosperous country. To mark the day, Awami League will hoist national and party flags at its all offices across the country.
Party leaders and activists placed wreaths at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the premises of Bangabandhu Bhaban at Dhanmondi in the morning.
The party will organise a discussion at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre at 3:30pm with AL President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Besides, a party delegation will go to Tungipara in Gopalganj to pay homage to Bangabandhu.
Several webinars and meetings will also be arranged through social networking sites on the occasion.
