The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Awami League Central Working Committee (ALCWC) yesterday approved the amended constitution keeping the provision for associate organisations and foreign chapters, as per the proposal of the sub-committee headed by AL presidium member Tofail Ahmed.

The amendment to the party constitution is mandatory for getting registered with the Election Commission (EC).

AL Acting president Zillur Rahman said that the party would not take part in the upcoming parliamentary election under the state of emergency but they would mull over the matter if Sheikh Hasina was freed unconditionally.

Zillur made this remark while talking to reporters after the adjourned meeting of ALCWC at the party’s Dhanmondi office.

He said the ALCWC has approved the amendments to some provisions in the party constitution.

He also informed that AL would formally apply to the Election Commission (EC) for registration on October 15.

AL acting general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam, while briefing journalists, said, “ The ALCWC has approved amendments to some provisions after a long discussion.”

He said, “ We have decided to retain all the associate organisations and foreign chapters. All the associate organisations will be operated as per their constitutions and the foreign units will abide by the rules and regulations of the host countries and uphold the ideals and principles of AL.”

The number of associate organisations are eleven and the latest one is Jubo Mohila League, which was formed in 2003.

As per the amended provisions, the party fund will rest with the treasurer and he will run all the financial activities with the approval of the president and general secretary of the party.

The amendment also contains that the party will work for reserving 33 per cent seats for female representatives in the party including in the working committee.

About awarding nomination, the amendment says that grassroots leaders will make a five-member panel of aspiring parliamentary poll candidates for each constituency by secret ballots and send it to the AL parliamentary board for selection.

Asaraful Islam disclosed the party’s stand on the deferment of the December 18 election saying, “ The national election cannot be deferred under any circumstances.”

He also demanded a rational and realistic date for upazila election at least one month after the national election.

He said AL would hold fresh talks with the Advisory Council and the EC to reset the date and time of the upazila elections, now slated for December 24 and 28.

“If necessary, we will be obligated to wage street agitation for a realistic timetable for the upazila elections,” he said.

The ALCWC condemned the bomb planting on the premises of the Judges Complex and sending of death threat to four noted lawyers, including Barrister Rafiq-ul-Huq, Ashraful said.

“Under the state of emergency, how can such an attack take place?” He questioned.

He asked the government to disclose the names of the masterminds of the terrorist activities and bring them to book immediately.

He informed that the party would observe protest rally across the country demanding the unconditional release of Sheikh Hasina and withdrawal of all the cases filed against her.

AL presidium member Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Abdur Razzak, Tofail Ahmed, Matia Chowdhury, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, among others, were present in the meeting.