Photo: Collected
The high command of the Awami League has decided to identify those who have been subjected to torture by party members and other organisations during the Jatiya Sangsad and upazila elections to establish their own constituencies. The central Awami League will soon instruct district-level offices to compile a list of perpetrators. In addition to taking action against leaders who have mistreated their own party workers, these individuals will be barred from participating in any future committee roles. This initiative aims to restore discipline within the party.
Party leaders acknowledge that some issues are inevitable in a large organisation. However, the mistreatment of workers by their own party leaders cannot be tolerated. Therefore, the party is adopting a strong stance to restore discipline following the completion of the two elections.
The Awami League is in power for the fourth consecutive term under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. This prolonged period in power has led to rampant factionalism and lobbying within the party. The same issue extends to its affiliated organisations, where similar divisions are present among their leaders. The approach of the 12th National Assembly elections has exacerbated these internal splits.
During this election, while the Awami League officially nominated its candidates, it did not restrict party members from running as independent candidates. In fact, the party encouraged independent candidacies to ensure a participatory election, given the BNP's boycott of the alliance election. This strategy created a significant divide between the party-nominated candidates and the independent candidates within the Awami League.
As a result, internal grouping became more pronounced, with party nominees and independent candidates both vying for influence. This competition led to instances of supporters and workers being targeted by leaders from within their own party and affiliated organisations. In the end, 62 independent members of parliament were elected nationwide, highlighting the extent of the division within the party.
The same situation persisted during the upazila elections following the parliamentary elections. The four-phase upazila elections have already concluded. The ruling Awami League had announced that candidacies would be open in this year's upazila elections, and party symbols would not be used. Additionally, Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina instructed that family members and relatives of party ministers and MPs should not participate in these elections to keep them free from undue influence. Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader also emphasised that actions would be taken against anyone trying to exert influence in defiance of party instructions.
Despite these directives from the highest levels of the party, reports have surfaced in the media indicating that government ministers attempted to influence MPs during the elections. This highlights ongoing challenges within the party regarding adherence to internal rules and the struggle to maintain a fair and unbiased electoral process.
The party is also considering taking organisational measures against the anti-discipline and worker-torturing leaders of the incumbent Awami League following the two consecutive elections. To address this, the party intends to identify the torturers. The high command of the party aims to ensure that these torturers cannot join any new committee.
Several party leaders have confirmed to The Daily Messenger that this issue was discussed extensively in the Awami League's working committee meeting on April 30 and in subsequent meetings of the party and its organisations. They indicated that instructions would be sent to the district level to identify those involved in the torture of workers during the parliamentary and upazila elections.
In this regard, Awami League's Relief and Social Affairs Secretary Aminul Islam told The Daily Messenger that action will be taken against those who disobey the party's instructions and torture workers. He remarked, "I think those who fought to make the election competitive, where the party chief kept the field open, must have discouraged the voters. There is no opportunity to spare them. Party leaders were somewhat busy with two consecutive elections. Now, all sorts of initiatives will be taken to restore internal discipline in the party as well as increase organisational momentum."
Awami League's Organising Secretary (Khulna Division) BM Mozammel Haque told The Daily Messenger that in the party's last working committee meeting, it was decided to take action against those involved in anti-discipline activities. He emphasised that action will be taken against any leader of the party or organisation who engages in torturing workers. After the conclusion of the elections, the leaders are re-entering the field to organise the party and restore order.
Messenger/Fameema
