PM wants AL to \'reach out to people\' for poll win in \'19

Awami League has to win the next parliamentary polls due in 2019 to ensure Bangladesh's economic development and growth, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Sunday, report agencies.

Addressing the party's National Council on Sunday, she said, "Awami League must come back to power to take the nation forward towards its goal of becoming a poverty-free nation."

The Awami League came to power in December 2008 polls and returned to power in the January 2014 polls for a second successive term.

Hasina, who is also the Awami League president, reached the Institution of Engineers auditorium for the last day of the National Council session at 9.40am.

Hasina asked Awami League leaders and activists to go to the doorsteps of people to convey them the message about the development activities her government has carried out as the next general election is approaching fast.

"Elections will be held in the coming days, it's a must for us to go to the doorsteps of mass people if we want to win the next polls for the third consecutive time...we have to convey the message of development the Awami League government has carried out," she said

She was accompanied by the party's general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam.

Hasina began addressing the councillors' session by stressing on the next national elections.

She stressed the importance of projecting the development programmes of the government that have been completed and are going to be completed, aimed at ensuring the welfare of people. Hasina said she wants 'honesty' among party activists.

"As long as I am alive, I want to elect a leader to strengthen the party," she said. But that evoked a negative from the councillors who said "No, no."

Hasina, who has been heading the Awami League since 1981, had said recently that she would be 'happy' to retire given the opportunity and if the party manages to find a new leader.

AL leaders, however, insist that there's no alternative to Hasina.

She has made it clear that the council will elect the next batch of leaders, but party leaders are depending on her to make decisions.

Speaking on Sunday, Hasina said that the party is her family. "Awami League is family, my dearest one. I have not given as much time to my children as I have to the party."

Meanwhile, the Awami League has re-elected Sheikh Hasina President while Obaidul Quader has been made the new General Secretary.

The ruling party chose the new leadership for the next three years Sunday, the second day of its 20th National Council, at the session held at the Institute of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB).

Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury proposed Hasina's name as president.

In her instant reaction after being re-elected party president for the eighth successive term, Sheikh Hasina said none should keep holding one post for a long time, although she was accepting the responsibility of Awami League president bestowed upon her.

"I've been in the post of president for 35 years long, there'll come a time when you'll have to say me goodbye because one should not continue in one post, the new leadership has to be built," she said.

Vowing to discharge the responsibility properly, she said the responsibility of Awami League president is huge. "I'll try my level best to carry out the big responsibility that you've bestowed upon me once again."

Syed Ashraful Islam, who served as general secretary for two terms, proposed Quader as his successor, which was supported by Jahangir Kabir Nanak.

Quader, the road transport minister, was also elected unopposed.

Newly elected President of AL Sheikh Hasina announced the names of party presidium members, joint secretaries and treasurer.

Outgoing general secretary Syed Ashraf has been inducted into the policymaking body. The new inclusions are Nurul Islam Nahid, Abdur Razzak, Abdul Mannan Khan, Faruk Khan, Ramesh Chandra Sen and Pijush Bhattacharya.

Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Matia Chowdhury, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Mohammad Nasim, Kazi Zafarullah, Sahara Khatun and Mosharraf Hossain will remain in the Presidium.

The four joint secretaries are Mahbub-Ul-Alam Hanif, Dr Dipu Moni MP, adv Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Abdur Rahman while the treasurer is Ashiqur Rahman.

Earlier, Dr Abdur Razzak, convener of constitution sub-committee of the council, presented amendments to the party constitution which was passed by its councillors.

According to the amendments, the number of presidium members will be increased to 19, including party president and general secretary, from the existing 15 while that of joint secretaries to four from the existing three. Besides, there will be eight organising secretaries in place of seven.