Many faces in race for Awami League general secretary

As national elections are approaching, ruling Awami League leaders are foraging for a suitable general secretary.

As there is no contender for the President’s post which is being taken by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, it is highly likely that she would lead the party for another term.

Central and grassroots are equally taking interest in seeing who is going to be on the AL’s podium as General Secretary.

They say there are many faces who want to take the charge. This has been one of the most talked-about matters in the country’s politics, now.

There are names galore ahead of the party’s convention at the end of this year.

“Only Sheikh Hasina is indispensable to Awami League, no one else. She (Hasina) will decide who will be the next General Secretary of Awami League," said Abdur Rahman, presidium member of the party.

The Business Insider Bangladesh has talked to about half a dozen senior leaders of the Awami League to learn about who is going to be the next general secretary.

As they differ on the potential person going to be the General Secretary, they all agreed that the final selection will entirely depend on the party chief Sheikh Hasina.

point they raised is that this time the general secretary must be a full-time politician, with no ministerial portfolio as the national elections are approaching.

The party insiders also said that three individuals are being mostly discussed---incumbent General Secretary Obaidul Quader and party presidium members, Abdur Razzaque and Zahangir Kabir Nanak.

To add some more names, presidium member Abdur Rahman, joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Dr Dipu Moni, Dr Hasan Mahmud and AFM Bahauddin Nasim are also being cited by top leaders.

Awami League presidium member Begum Matia Chowdhury said, “We made Sheikh Hasina as the President of the party in 1981 for the sake of the country and the party.”

“The daughter of Bangabandhu proved well that she has no alternative for Awami League, as well as Bangladesh. The party will run as she directs,” Matia Chowdhury told Business Insider Bangladesh.

The ruling party policymakers also said that the parliamentary polls are scheduled for next December or January, 2024.

They believe that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party will join the polls, although BNP says they would not join any polls under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina or under the auspices of this Election Commission.

Meanwhile, Awami League top notches also plan to conclude the district and upazilla councils across the country by November, this year.

The councils will be held at the Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital, like the previous one that took place in 2019. After completing the councils, the 22nd national council of the ruling Awami League will be held.