Information Minister and Awami League’s publicity secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud has said that the party is working to uproot thuggery and commercialization of politics.
He said: “AL wants to eradicate a vicious form of politics that took shape after the killing of Bangabandhu in 1975 and ensure transparent and quality politics.”
In an interview with Bangla Tribune, he said: “AL leaders are transparent and are involved in a plethora of benevolent work but there is competition among the good too and this time, the best from the commendable will be picked for creating a disciplined, powerful and progressive party.”
AL will benefit from the purging drive and only the best and capable leaders will come to leadership posts.
Dr Hasan Mahmud was first elected from Rangunia in the 2008 parliamentary election and served as state minister for foreign affairs and then as full minister of the ministry of environment and forestry.
He received accolades for serving as minister for environment for four and a half years and currently is the information minister.
Before being elected in 2008, he spent a long time as personal assistant to AL president Sheikh Hasina.
Regarding the issue about separating party from government, he said: “We did not have such a discussion; the government’s objectives are fixed as per party manifesto so there is a sense of coordination here.”
In forming the new committee, experience and youth will be given preference, he said, adding: “Young leaders have been given spots at sub committees and at this level a lot of work is being done.”
The sub committees make recommendations based on discussion and based on them, strategies are formulated, he observed.
Dr Hasan Mahmud, who is internationally acclaimed as an environmentalist, said: “the number of women leaders will be increased in the party and, in stages, the 33 percent quota will be fulfilled.”
He hoped that the conference will be disciplined and successful.