AL resolves to keep associate bodies, overseas units

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The Awami League (AL) central working committee (CWC) has decided to maintain all the associate organisations and overseas units of the party, reports bdnews24.com.
The CWC also demanded scrapping of two clauses of the Election Commission Act, giving the EC powers to cancel candidature and declare utility bill defaulters unfit, the party's acting general secretary said Saturday.
"The power of the EC to cancel candidature after the returning officer approves the nomination paper is not acceptable," Syed Ashraful Islam told a press conference after a meeting of the committee. "This law has to be withdrawn."
He said the CWC also wanted the forthcoming national election as per the previous demarcation of constituencies.
Adjourned until Monday morning, the meeting, held at the AL president's Dhanmondi office, was chaired by senior presidium member Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury. AL presidium members Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed, Motia Chowdhury and Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim were among those present.
"A decision has been made to keep the party's associate orgnisations and overseas units," the acting general secretary said.
Besides, presidium member Tofail Ahmed will head a powerful committee to recommend changes to the party constitution. All other members of the presidium, advisory council members Hossain Toufique Imam and Abul Maal Abdul Muhit, and six central committee members will join him in the exercise.