Awami League to set up party offices in each division, district and upazilla

The Awami League (AL) is planning to set up party offices in each district, divisional city and upazila with its own funds. AL president Sheikh Hasina has already directed some of her party leaders to take steps to set up party offices across the country to strengthen the organisation right from the grassroots levels.

The AL central office has already sent letters to district leaders, seeking information on the conditions of party offices across the country. The party has also directed its grassroots leaders to initiate steps to set up such offices.

“As per the direction of party president Sheikh Hasina, the party has taken initiatives to set up party offices in all districts, divisional cities and upazilas,” says the letter, signed by AL general secretary Obaidul Quader.

The party high command wants buildings to house AL offices in each district. Some of them could be five to six-stories tall. The party’s associate organisations too would be able to use those new buildings as their offices.

AL deputy office secretary barrister Biplab Barua said yesterday: “Yes, the party high command is thinking of building party offices in each district. It'll help grassroots leaders to work for the party in a dedicated way and strengthen the organisation.”

“Actually, it’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s wish. She wants to build a new party office in every district with the party’s own funds. Though the matter is yet to be finalised, I think our party chief will give us the necessary direction soon in this connection,” he added.

Speaking to The Independent, AL central committee member Iqbal Hossain Apu said the AL is the country’s oldest and largest political party.

He also said it is only fair that the pary should have its own party offices in all the districts. “I think the new party offices will encourage party leaders and workers to work for the organisation. It'll make our grassroots leaders and workers mentally stronger,” he added.

Last year, the party had built its central office with all modern amenities in the city’s Bangabandhu Avenue. The AL’s new 10-storied modern building has a conference hall, seminar room, digital library, VIP lounge, cafeteria, journalist lounge, car parking, dormitory and separate floors for the party president and general secretary.

Besides, the party wants to strengthen the organisation at the grassroots level for which it has taken different initiatives including the holding of council sessions of all units, minimising intra-party feuds and increasing party members at the grassroots level.

A team, comprising central leaders, is currently visiting the party’s organisational districts in an effort to strengthen the party at the grassroots level by holding pending council sessions to districts, upazilas and thanas, ahead of the party’s upcoming 21st national council session likely to be held in October.

Party insiders say the main objectives of the tours are to strengthen the grassroots organisation, form divisional committees to observe the 100th birth anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and prepare a list of party leaders who contested against party and opposed its decisions during local government elections.

Another objective of the tour is to resolve intra-party conflicts at the grassroots level, they say.