Hasina, Quader re-elected president, gen secy of AL

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader have been re-elected as president and general secretary of Awami League respectively.

Sheikh Hasina has been re-elected as AL president for ninth term while Obaidul Quader as general secretary for second term.

They were elected on the final day of the two-day national council of Awami League at the Institute of Engineers, Bangladesh in Dhaka.

AL Presidium Member Advocate Abdul Matin Khasru proposed the name of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as AL president while another AL presidium member Pijush Kanti Bhattacharya supported the name of Sheikh Hasina.

To elect the general secretary of AL, AL joint general secretary Jahangir Kabir Nanak proposed the name of Obaidul Quader while another AL Joint General Secretary Abdur Rahman supported the name.

Later, Chief Election Commissioner of the AL national council Yusuf Hossain Humayun announced Sheikh Hasina as AL president and Obaidul Quader as general secretary.

Yesterday, Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the two-day 21st council at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital where grassroots leaders from across the country thronged.

It was almost certain that Sheikh Hasina, who has been leading the party since 1981, will be re-elected as the AL president. Therefore, all eyes are on the general secretary post.

The council session today will elect the next central working committee of the ruling party for a three-year term. It will be attended by some 7,500 councillors from across the country.

AL sources said the number of women in the AL central committee will increase from the existing 15, as the Representation of the People Order 1972 stipulates that all registered political parties must increase female representation in their committees to 33 percent by 2020.