‘Bangladesh Awami Sajeeb Wazed Joy League' to be launched soon

A new organisation christened ‘Bangladesh Awami Sajeeb Wazed Joy League’ is set to be launched soon.

Kazi Mobarak Hossainbdnews24.com
Published : 7 August 2016, 08:58 AM
Updated : 7 August 2016, 01:25 PM

It will join a long list of dozens of organisations operating with ‘Awami League’, ‘Bangabandhu’, ‘Jatir Pita’ and ‘Bangamata’ in their names.

All claim affiliations to the Awami League.

‘Joy League’ founder and President Hasu Sardar says it has been his ‘childhood dream’ to form such a party.

He said he plans to launch the organisation formally very soon at a human-chain in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka.

But the ruling party’s Organising Secretary Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury has dubbed Sardar’s initiative as just another ‘illegal enterprise’ that will be used for ‘extortion and fraudulent activities’.

Joy is the only son of Prime Minister and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina and the grandson of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He also advises his mother on ICT affairs.

Sardar told bdnews24.com that he, several of his advisers and one of Joy’s cousins named ‘Shamim’ had come together some years ago and formed the organisation.

After ‘working hard for six months’ they were able to form the 101-member central committee and several district committees, he said.

Sardar said his organisation will have units in every district across the country very soon.

He claimed ‘many top leaders’ of the Awami League were involved in his organisation.

“But I can’t name them now. I will let you know after consulting my advisers,” Sardar told this bdnews24.com correspondent.

Asked where the organisation’s fund would come from, he said, “There is an advisory panel. They are taking care of it for now.”

When his attention was drawn to a banner for the organisation’s Dhaka district unit which had the name only as ‘Sajeeb Wazed Joy League’, Sardar said, “Leaders of this committee only used Joy Bhai’s (brother) name. But our organisation’s full name is ‘Bangladesh Awami Sajeeb Wazed Joy League’.”

He expressed frustration about many who are ‘badmouthing’ his initiative and said the Dhaka district unit convenor was verbally abused over phone.

The unit’s office address in the banner was given as ‘Kaliganj Bazar, Chowdhury Market, Keraniganj, Dhaka-1310’. While talking to bdnews24.com, this committee’s convenor Rony Ahmed claimed he has a business in Keraniganj.

Ahmed claimed he managed to become the leader of this unit after ‘a lot of lobbying’ in the central committee.

However, asked whether this ‘Joy League’ was affiliated with the ruling party, Awami League leader Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury avoided a direct answer.

But he said, “They are just using the party’s (AL) political capital to extort and carry out fraudulent activities. I think appropriate measures should be taken against them.”

According to the party constitution, Awami League’s affiliated organisations are Juba League, Krishak League, Swechchhasebak League, Awami Ainjibi Parishad, Juba Mahila League, Mahila Awami League and Tanti League.

Also, Chhatra League and Sramik League are also two others acknowledged affiliate organisations of the ruling party.

An organisation called ‘Bangladesh Awami Sishu (children) League’ had also surfaced last year.