The national councils of the ruling Awami League’s affiliate bodies are never held on time with decades going by without the election of a new leadership.
Although the student wing Bangladesh Chhatra League comparatively held more councils, it was seen that despite the two-year or three-year expiry for each committee, for the seven affiliate organisations and three wings, they haven’t been dissolved.
The party charter dictates Mahila Awami Leaguem, Krishak League, Jubo League, Shecchashebak League, Bangabandhu Awami Ainjibi Parishad, Tati League and Jubo Mahila League to be affiliate bodies.
The delay in holding council is reportedly due to the leaders not wanting to step down from posts fearing not getting a place in the Awami League or its affiliate bodies especially when the party is in power.
The ruling party has to intervene in some way or the other for the councils to take place. On Wednesday (Oct 9), Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fixed the dates for the councils.
The date for Krishak League’s council is Nov 2, Sramik League’s on Nov 9 while Shecchashebak League and Jubo League’s are scheduled to be held on Nov 16 and Nov 23 respectively.
The Mahila Awami League, Jubo Mohila League and Tati League held councils in 2017.
Mahila Awami League was established on Feb 27, 1967, the oldest of the ruling party’s affiliate bodies.
The fifty-year-old organisation held its 5th council on Mar 4, 2017 and 14 years before that on Jul 12, 2003.
Despite the 16 councils it was supposed to hold, with each committee having three-year validity, only five took place.
Krishak League was established on Apr 19, 1972. Despite the 16 councils supposed to be held, only six took place with the last one being on Jul 19, 2012.
The organisation chief Mothar Hossain Mollah said that the councils were delayed after the party came to power.
He said that the council will be held on Nov 6 as per Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s order.
The ruling party’s youth front Jubo League was established on Nov 11, 1972. Although it was supposed to hold council every three years, only six took place.
Shecchashebak League was established on Jul 27, 1994 and held two councils despite the eight it was supposed to hold.
Jubo Mahila League held two councils till its establishment on Jul 6, 2002. Its current chief Nazma Akhter and General Secretary Apu Ukil have been in their posts for the last 17 years.
Established in 2003, Tati League held only one council on May 19, 2017.
The Bangabandhu Awmai Ainjibi Parishad is the ruling party’s lawyer front. The Awami Ainjibi Parishad was established in 2000 led by Advocate Sahara Khatun who went on to become the home minister later. Under her regime, no council took place and another organisation Bangabandhu Ainjibi Parishad was formed later.
Following clashes between the two organisations, Hasina dissolved both in 2017 and established the Bangabandhu Awami Ainjibi Parishad in 2017.
The Shadhinata Chikitshok Parishad was formed on Dec 24, 1993 and held four councils since then despite the eight its was supposed to hold.
Sramik League, established on Oct 12, 1965 celebrated its golden jubilee. It last held council in 2012.
BCL has so far held 29 councils with its establishment in 1948. Although the number is higher than other affiliate bodies, they were supposed to hold 35 councils.
Former BCL president Bahadur Bepari saod that the councils are delayed due to many political reasons but the committee validity is extended as per the charter in that case.
He said that many factors including financial and council of the grassroots organisations are tied to the councils which in themselves require a lot of preparation.