Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked for the support of her party's activists to fulfil the ruling party’s plans to transform Bangladesh over the next half-century.
Published : 22 Oct 2016, 02:59 PM
Addressing the party's national council, she portrayed her administration's development efforts to alleviate poverty.
The Awami League's two-day 20th National Council started at the capital's Suhrawardy Udyan on Saturday.
Urging Awami League activists to come up with list of poor people in their areas, she said 'poverty' will just not exist in Bangladesh after 2041.
"Awami League is the people's party. The people are our responsibility," said Hasina, who has been leading the 67-year old party for the last 35 years.
Speaking at preparatory committee meeting of the national council last Tuesday, Hasina had said: "The government will relentlessly pursue the battle against poverty but it is important the party provides the right kind of support."
The Awami League came to power by sweeping the 2008 parliament elections, projecting itself as the party of change.
Five years later, it returned to power in an election that was boycotted by principal Opposition BNP and its allies.
Hasina's administration focuses on making Bangladesh a middle income country by 2021 and a developed nation in the two decades after.
After addressing the council, Hasina adjourned the session.
A closed door meeting of the party's councillors is scheduled at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) auditorium in the afternoon, which is expected to decide on the new leadership of the party.
Hasina had said recently that she would be 'happy' to retire given the opportunity and if the party, founded by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, manages to find a new leader.
AL leaders, however, insist that there is no alternative of Hasina.
She has made it clear that the council will elect the next batch of leaders, but the party is depending on her to make the decisions.