Making history Hasina on chair to run AL, Quader also one more term

Creating history of leading a mainstream political party for about four decades Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has once again elected unopposed the president of ruling Awami League party for a consecutive 9th term, adding three more years to her existing 38 years record of leading country's oldest political party.

Awami League (AL) councilors on Saturday, the closing of two-day national council of the party in capital city Dhaka, elected unopposed Hasina as party's president for a record 9th term while Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader have been re-elected as general secretary for second consecutive term.

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.

On Friday, 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 were on the general secretary post.

The council session also elected the next central working committee of the ruling party for a three-year term. Some 7,500 councilors from across the country attended the council.

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.

Meanwhile, some changes have been made in AL's constitution including extending advisory members to 51 from running 41.

Kamruzzaman