Awami League National Councils in 67 years

One of the oldest parties of Bangladesh, the Awami League is holding its 20th National Council on Saturday in search for a 'supportive leadership' to realise the ruling party's ambition for mid-income state by 2021 and a developed nation in another 20 years.

1st Council (Jun 23 to 24, 1949)

President: Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani;

General Secretary: Shamsul Haq;

2nd Council (Nov 14 to 16, 1953)

President: Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani;

General Secretary: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman;

3rd Council (Sep 21 to 23, 1955)

President: Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani;

General Secretary: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman;

4th Council (Feb 7 to 8, 1957)

President: Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani;

General Secretary: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman;

Special Council (Jun 13 to 14, 1957)

Bashani leaves the Awami League to form the National Awami Party (NAP).

Acting President: Moulana Abdur Rashid Tarkabagish;

General Secretary: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman;

5th Council (Mar 6 to 8, 1964)

President: Moulana Abdur Rashid Tarkabagish;

General Secretary: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman;

6th Council (Mar 18 to 20, 1966)

President: Moulana Abdur Rashid Tarkabagish;

General Secretary: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman;

7th Council (Aug 19, 1967)

President: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman;

General Secretary: Tajuddin Ahmed;

8th Council (Jun 4, 1970)

President: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman;

General Secretary: Tajuddin Ahmed;

9th Council (Apr 7 to 8, 1972)

President: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman;

General Secretary: Zillur Rahman;

10th Council (Jan 18 to 20, 1974)

President: AHM Qamruzzaman;

General Secretary: Zillur Rahman;

11th Council (Apr 3 to 4, 1977)

Convener: Syed Zohra Tajuddin;

However, in 1976, the party reunited following the 1975 coup when Mahiuddin Ahmed and Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury served as the acting president and acting general secretary respectively.

12th Council (Mar 3 to 5, 1978)

President: Abdul Malek Ukil;

General Secretary: Abdur Razzaq;

13th Council (Feb 13 to 15, 1981)

President: Sheikh Hasina;

General Secretary: Abdur Razzaq;

Razzaq was later expelled from the party and Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury was made the acting secretary general.

14th Council (Jan 1 to 3, 1987)

President: Sheikh Hasina;

General Secretary: Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury;

15th Council (Sep 19 to 21, 1992)

President: Sheikh Hasina;

General Secretary: Zillur Rahman;

16th Council (May 6 to 7, 1997)

President: Sheikh Hasina;

General Secretary: Zillur Rahman;

17th Council (Dec 26, 2002)

President: Sheikh Hasina;

General Secretary: Adbul Jalil;

18th Council (Jul 24, 2009)

President: Sheikh Hasina;

General Secretary: Syed Ashraful Islam;

19th Council (Dec 29, 2012)

President: Sheikh Hasina;

General Secretary: Syed Ashraful Islam;