73rd AL founding anniversary today

Staff Reporter

Bangladesh Awami League, a torchbearer of the country’s glorious history, is celebrating its 73rd founding anniversary today in a befitting manner.

On this day in 1949, the Awami League, the oldest political party in the country, started its journey from the historic Rose Garden in Old Dhaka and led the country’s war of independence in 1971.

The party played a strong role in all democratic movements in the erstwhile Pakistan and later in Bangladesh. Its leaders and activists have stood by the people during all crises. The party has extended all necessary help to the flood-hit people in Sylhet recently, as the party was born to serve people and take the country forward. The Awami League and its associate bodies chalked out elaborate programmes across the country to mark the day.

On the day, national and party flags were hoisted at central and party offices throughout the country during sunrise. Tribute was paid at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in front of the Bangabandhu Bhaban at 8:00 am.

Tribute will be paid to the graveyard of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Tungipara in Gopalganj on behalf of the AL’s central executive council at 11:00 am. A delegation of Awami League leaders led by party presidium member Faruk Khan will go to Tungipara to pay homage to Bangabandhu.

A discussion meeting will be held at the party’s central office on Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital, where Awami League President Sheikh Hasina will address the gathering at 10:30am through videoconferencing from her official residence at Ganabhaban.

AL’s General Secretary, Obaidul Quader, has called on all the leaders, workers, and supporters of the party and its associate bodies to observe the programme at district and upazila levels.

In its 73-year historic journey, AL led the 1952 Language Movement and fought successfully against exploitation, disparity, and violation of basic human rights with massive public support. The new political party that emerged as a rival to the then-ruling Muslim League unanimously elected Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani and Shamsul Huq as its president and general secretary, respectively.

The newly formed Awami League also elected Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the joint secretary of the party.

Through the 1966 council meeting, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman rose to the position of party leader before taking over as the unrivalled and unchallenged leader of the Bengali nation.

After the Liberation War in 1971, the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman started working to build Bangladesh as a non-communal and prosperous country.

Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the present government has set a target to turn the country into a peaceful abode in South Asia by establishing good governance and carrying out balanced development.

The Awami League has had seven presidents and nine general secretaries in its long history, with incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina serving as president for the longest and highest nine consecutive terms since her election to the position on February 16, 1981.

So far, nine leaders have served the Awami League as general secretaries, with Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Zillur Rahman serving in that position for a maximum of four terms each.

Bangabandhu became the party president on January 25, 1966, and steered the party for eight years till January 18, 1974.

Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani served the Awami League as the first party chief for seven years, from June 23, 1949, to July 27, 1956. Shamshul Haque was elected as general secretary, while Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was elected as joint general secretary from the jail.

Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman were elected president and general secretary of the Awami League’s second council held in 1953.

The third council of the party was held in 1955, and Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman were reelected president and general secretary, respectively.

Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy served as the acting party president for one year, from July 27, 1956, to October 10, 1957.

At the party’s fourth council held in 1957, Maulana Abdur Rashid Tarkabagish was elected as acting president and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was elected general secretary for the third time.

At the fifth council of the party held in 1964, Maulana Abdur Rashid Tarkabagish was elected as president and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was reelected as general secretary for the fourth time. The sixth council of the party held in 1966 was a historic one as it endorsed the historic 6-point of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was elected Awami League president for the first time, and Tajuddin Ahmed was elected general secretary.

The 7th council of the party was held in 1968, and Bangabandhu was in jail in connection with the Agartala conspiracy case. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Tajuddin Ahmed were re-elected as the party’s president and general secretary, respectively.

The eighth council of the the Awami League was held in 1970. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Tajuddin Ahmed were reelected president and general secretary, respectively.

The ninth council was held in independent Bangladesh in 1972, and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Zillur Rahman were elected president and general secretary, respectively.

AHM Quamaruzzaman and Zillur Rahman were elected as president and general secretary of the party in the 10th council held in 1974.

The 11th council was held in 1977, and Syeda Zohra Tajuddin was elected as the party’s convener.

In the 12th council held in 1978, Abdul Malek Ukil and Abdur Razzak were elected as president and general secretary of AL.

The 13th council was held on February 14–16, 1981, and it was a turning point for the AL as around 4000 councillors and delegates elected Sheikh Hasina as the party president in her absence while she was in exile. Abdur Razzak was elected as general secretary.

Abdur Razzak resigned from the post in 1982, and Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury became acting general secretary.

Sheikh Hasina and Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury were elected as president and general secretary of the party in the 14th council held in 1987.

In 1992, the party’s 15th council elected Sheikh Hasina and Zillur Rahman as president and general secretary, respectively.

The 16th council of the Awami League was held in 1997. Sheikh Hasina and Zillur Rahman were re-elected president and general secretary of the party, respectively.

The 17th council was held in 2002, and Sheikh Hasina and Abdul Jalil were elected as president and general secretary, respectively.

At the 18th council held in 2007, Sheikh Hasina and Sayed Ashraful Islam were elected president and general secretary of the party, respectively.

Both Sheikh Hasina and Sayed Ashraful Islam were reelected president and general secretary, respectively, in the 19th council held in 2012.

The 20th council of the party was held in 2016 and Sheikh Hasina and Obaidul Quader were elected as president and general secretary, respectively.

The last 21st council session of the Awami League was held on December 20–21, 2019 at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan. Sheikh Hasina and Obaidul Quader were reelected president and general secretary, respectively.