Bangladesh: Sheikh Hasina elected President of Awami League, Obaidul Quader General Secretary

The 22nd Council meeting of the ruling Awami League (AL) on Saturday re-elected Sheikh Hasina as the Party President for the 10th time in a row. She became the longest serving President of Awami League since 1981 when she first assumed this post. Senior Awami League leader Obaidul Quader was also re-elected as the General Secretary of the party for the third consecutive term. Both of them were elected unopposed to the post for the next three years by around 7000 councillors and delegates of the party. The two leaders will form the central committee of AL in due course.

The new council has introduced nominal changes in the top decision making body of the party indicating a preference for continuity as the AL prepares for the forthcoming general elections scheduled to be held in January 2024.

Earlier, in the day, Awami League President and Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina opened the 22nd national council meeting by hoisting the national flag and releasing pigeons and balloons at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka. Some foreign envoys and eminent personalities, representatives of various political parties including the 14-party alliance and Jatiya Party were present. Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) did not participate in the programme, though it was invited.

Addressing the meeting, Sheikh Hasina cautioned the AL leaders and activists about the conspiracies and asked them to focus on the marginalised people to transform Bangladesh into a developed, prosperous and smart country by 2041.

Referring to the measures taken by the government for electoral reforms, she spoke about the new law to appoint Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners. She assured that the next general election will be conducted in a free and fair manner. Accusing Khaleda Zia of preparing a fake voter list of 1.23 crore people during her regime, she said Awami League is the only party which ensured voting rights of the people.