The Awami League, whose political activities remain banned in Bangladesh, is set to see three new figures added to its senior leadership, including its Presidium, the party’s highest policymaking body.
At a meeting of the party’s central executive committee on Friday night, AL President Sheikh Hasina was given the authority to decide which positions the three would hold, according to party insiders.
The meeting also indicated that several members could be dropped from the central committee as part of a wider restructuring, informed the sources.
AL Presidium member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim chaired the virtual meeting, which was attended by deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and party leaders based in India and other countries. A total of 37 Awami League leaders, including Hasina, attended the meeting.
Several leaders who attended the meeting confirmed the details to TIMES on condition of anonymity.
They said Hasina instructed senior leaders to keep the party’s strategic decisions confidential and warned against leaking plans to the media or spreading false and misleading information.
Leaders were also told not to disclose details of the meeting beyond those contained in official party statements.
It was the first meeting of the Awami League’s central executive committee since the party was toppled from power in the 2024 mass uprising.
As part of the restructuring, the meeting discussed filling three senior positions. The names under consideration are SM Rezaul Karim, Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury Nowfel and Alauddin Ahmed Chowdhury Nasim, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
Although only a small number of new entries are being considered, several leaders who attended the meeting said a much larger number of members could be dropped from the central committee near future.
A significant number of central committee members were not invited to Friday’s meeting, they said. Some who tried to join on their own initiative were not allowed to participate.
Some party leaders see this as an indication that members who have remained inactive over the past two years could be removed from the committee.
Referring to the number of senior figures absent from the meeting, one central leader told TIMES, “The list is quite long.”
The meeting also discussed the Awami League’s future course of action and Hasina’s planned return to Bangladesh.
Sources at the meeting said Hasina reiterated her intention to return in December and instructed central leaders to return to Bangladesh and remain close to the people.
She also stressed the need to rebuild the party and warned leaders against internal disputes and factionalism. Those involved in factional activities would face disciplinary action, according to leaders who attended the meeting.
The spread of false and misleading information was also discussed.
On Thursday, reports circulated on social media and in news outlets claiming that Friday’s previously announced executive committee meeting had been cancelled.
Several central committee members, however, told TIMES that no decision had been taken to cancel or postpone it.
They said plans for an in-person meeting were changed at the last minute and the meeting was instead held virtually.
According to the leaders, the change was made partly to allow party figures based in Europe and the United States to participate and partly because of concerns over a rise in swine flu cases. The timing of the meeting was also adjusted accordingly.
