Vast enthusiasm, festivity marks AL council
Saturday, 25 July 2009
Vast enthusiasm and festivity Friday marked the 20th triennial conference of Bangladesh Awami League (AL), the oldest and largest political party of the country that witnessed many ups and downs in the last 60 years, reports BSS.
Leaders, workers and supporters of Awami League and its front organisations across the country led to the colourful and highly protected venue of the council, Bangabandhu International Convention Centre (BICC), from early Friday.
The venue wore a festive look as it was decorated with colourful banners, festoons and posters of the party, which led all the democratic, political and social movements of the country, including the War of Liberation.
Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, wearing a cream-colour saree, stepped onto the stage decorated with flowers at 10:20 am.
At the top of the back-screen, portraits of the party's founding leaders including Maulana Bhasani, Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy, Shamsul Haque and four national leaders Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed, Captain Mansur Ali and AHM Qamruzzaman were hung while big portraits of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his able daughter Sheikh Hasina on both sides of the tastefully decorated dais that conveyed different meanings to the followers of the party.
Later, the Prime Minister inaugurated the council releasing pigeons and balloons into the sky. Sheikh Hasina hoisted the national flag and Acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam the party flag when the national anthem was rendered by artistes of 'Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendro'.
Sheikh Hasina delivered the inaugural speech after recitation from the holy Quran, the holy Geeta, the holy Bible and the holy Tripitaka.
An obituary reference was read out by AL Office Secretary Advocate Abdul Mannan Khan for those who died and embraced martyrdom from August 15, 1975 including Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Begum Fazilatunnessa Mujib, Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal, Sheikh Russel, Sheikh Fazlul Huq Moni, four national leaders Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed, Captain Mansur Ali and AHM Qamruzzaman, Dr MA Wazed Mia, leaders and workers of Awami League and its front organisations, eminent personalities and world leaders.
A minute's silence was observed as a mark of respect to their memories.
Deputy Leader of the Jatiya Sangsad Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, who is also the convener of Reception Committee, delivered the welcome speech.
According to AL sources, 5,253 councillors from 73 organisational districts joined the council. Of them, 1,552 from Dhaka division, 1,211 from Rajshahi, 1,076 from Chittagong, 319 from Sylhet, 587 from Khulna and 325 from Barisal division. More than 5,000 delegates were present at the council.
A three-member BNP team comprising Fazlul Haque Milon, Shimul Biswas and Shirin Sultana went to AL council to hand over greetings of their Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
Besides, leaders of AL allies, including Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, MP, JSD President Hasanul Haque Inu, MP, Ganatantri Party President Mohammad Afzal, Jatiya Party (Manju) President Anwar Hossain Manju, Samyabadi Dal President Dilip Barua, MP, CPB President Manzurul Ahsan Khan and General Secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim, diplomats, business leaders, teachers, journalists and leaders of other professional bodies were also present on the occasion.
Leaders, workers and supporters of Awami League and its front organisations across the country led to the colourful and highly protected venue of the council, Bangabandhu International Convention Centre (BICC), from early Friday.
The venue wore a festive look as it was decorated with colourful banners, festoons and posters of the party, which led all the democratic, political and social movements of the country, including the War of Liberation.
Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, wearing a cream-colour saree, stepped onto the stage decorated with flowers at 10:20 am.
At the top of the back-screen, portraits of the party's founding leaders including Maulana Bhasani, Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy, Shamsul Haque and four national leaders Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed, Captain Mansur Ali and AHM Qamruzzaman were hung while big portraits of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his able daughter Sheikh Hasina on both sides of the tastefully decorated dais that conveyed different meanings to the followers of the party.
Later, the Prime Minister inaugurated the council releasing pigeons and balloons into the sky. Sheikh Hasina hoisted the national flag and Acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam the party flag when the national anthem was rendered by artistes of 'Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendro'.
Sheikh Hasina delivered the inaugural speech after recitation from the holy Quran, the holy Geeta, the holy Bible and the holy Tripitaka.
An obituary reference was read out by AL Office Secretary Advocate Abdul Mannan Khan for those who died and embraced martyrdom from August 15, 1975 including Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Begum Fazilatunnessa Mujib, Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh Jamal, Sheikh Russel, Sheikh Fazlul Huq Moni, four national leaders Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed, Captain Mansur Ali and AHM Qamruzzaman, Dr MA Wazed Mia, leaders and workers of Awami League and its front organisations, eminent personalities and world leaders.
A minute's silence was observed as a mark of respect to their memories.
Deputy Leader of the Jatiya Sangsad Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, who is also the convener of Reception Committee, delivered the welcome speech.
According to AL sources, 5,253 councillors from 73 organisational districts joined the council. Of them, 1,552 from Dhaka division, 1,211 from Rajshahi, 1,076 from Chittagong, 319 from Sylhet, 587 from Khulna and 325 from Barisal division. More than 5,000 delegates were present at the council.
A three-member BNP team comprising Fazlul Haque Milon, Shimul Biswas and Shirin Sultana went to AL council to hand over greetings of their Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
Besides, leaders of AL allies, including Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, MP, JSD President Hasanul Haque Inu, MP, Ganatantri Party President Mohammad Afzal, Jatiya Party (Manju) President Anwar Hossain Manju, Samyabadi Dal President Dilip Barua, MP, CPB President Manzurul Ahsan Khan and General Secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim, diplomats, business leaders, teachers, journalists and leaders of other professional bodies were also present on the occasion.