Accusing each other, Awami League's organizational weakness is exposed

Awami League's organizational weakness is openly blamed
Awami League's organizational weakness came to light during the students' movement demanding quota reform. The party could not maintain its position on the streets to prevent conflict and violence around this movement. Many of the party leaders see it as a political failure. On the question of this failure, now the leaders from the center to the grassroots are trying to blame each other. In many cases, there are arguments, arguments or arguments between the leaders.

However, Awami League policy makers are trying to downplay the incidents of blaming or slandering leaders as part of the internal evaluation process. But some say, the party's role in the quota reform movement was so fragile that many could not accept it, and were shocked. They are trying to mitigate the anger by blaming each other for this.

Awami League's policy-making level leaders say that the Awami League is worried about the party's weakness being revealed in the quota reform movement and public opinion going against it. Especially they think that the young generation is angry with the government. The issue of party restructuring is gaining importance in discussions at various levels of the party. The policy makers think, now to turn around, the party should be restructured. Otherwise people's hearts cannot be won with old faces and old policies. It will be difficult to deal with such shocks in the future.

Some say that the party's role in the quota reform movement was so fragile that many could not accept it, and were shocked. They are trying to mitigate the anger by blaming each other for this.
In a press conference at Awami League's Dhanmondi office on Friday, General Secretary Obaidul Quader said that they have held an evaluation meeting for the last four days regarding the recent events. He said, "The meetings we have held in the last four days, have there been fights anywhere?" Debate is the lifeblood of democracy. Awami League practices internal democracy. There may be controversy here. There can be arguments about anything; But no one fought. There was no fight.'

Blame, tension, argument
Central leaders led by Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader held a coordination meeting at the Tezgaon District Awami League office in the capital last Thursday afternoon. The ruling party is holding a series of meetings with the people's representatives and leaders of the areas of the capital where there has been massive conflict in the quota reform movement.

According to related sources, Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader sat in his room at Tejgaon office with some leaders after Thursday's meeting. At that time, Jubo League General Secretary and Member of Parliament Mainul Hossain Khan and Dhaka Metropolitan North Awami League General Secretary SM Mannan (Kochi) got into an argument over the conflict of the quota reform movement and the party's failure to prevent violence. At one point their argument turned into a fight. Then Awami League joint general secretary Mahbub ul Alam Hanif, AFM Bahauddin Nashim and the present central leaders restrained those two leaders. At this time, other leaders present there also indulged in anger towards each other.

The meetings we have held in the last four days, have there been fights anywhere? Debate is the lifeblood of democracy. Awami League practices internal democracy. There may be controversy here. There can be arguments about anything; But no one fought. There was no fight.
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader
A responsible leader of the Central Committee of Awami League told Prothom Alo on the condition of not revealing his identity that this kind of argument or argument within the party is unprecedented. But there is a lack of tolerance among leaders in tense situations.

On the other hand, at the beginning of the students' movement, the family members of many Awami League leaders, public representatives and supporters gave statuses on the social media Facebook in favor of the quota reform movement. With this, there was a reaction at various levels including the central leadership of the party.

'Weakness due to differences'
27 out of 108 unit committees of Mohammadpur, Adabar and Sherebangla Nagar Police Stations of Dhaka Metropolitan North Awami League were dissolved on Thursday night for not playing a role in the quota reform movement. The party leaders say that the organizational situation is now fragile due to leadership divisions in the metropolis.

Last Tuesday at the central office of the party in Bangabandhu Avenue, the weakness of the party was also discussed in a joint meeting with the affiliated and fraternal organizations of the party, Metropolitan North and South Awami League and party public representatives. In that meeting, many of the leaders and activists expressed their anger about the weakness of the party. Many people said that as much activity is seen to get party posts, to get contract work in government offices, there is no such activity for the party in difficult times. These 'beneficiaries' did not leave their homes during the quota reform movement.

This time, the responsibility of the failure in the quota reform movement has fallen on the associate organization Chhatra League. A former leader of the organization told Prothom Alo, on condition of anonymity, that Chhatra League is so unpopular, it did not come to mind. How do these leaders show the faces of students in their institutions? The leader also said that if measures are not taken to identify why the people of the country dislike the government and the Awami League, there may be more danger in the future.

Out of 108 unit committees of Mohammadpur, Adabar and Sherbangla Nagar police stations of Dhaka Metropolitan North Awami League, 27 committees have been dissolved. The party leaders say that the organizational situation is now fragile due to leadership divisions in the metropolis.
First major shock in 15 years
In the beginning, Awami League leaders and workers were in the field to fight the movement. But after the intensity of the conflict, the leaders and activists were not seen in the field. A number of responsible leaders of Awami League say that some kind of lack of coordination, even signs of collapse, have been seen from the center to the metropolis, affiliated organizations and grassroots level. This is due to organizational weakness.

The leadership of Awami League should take full analysis and measures. Or may be in danger in the future.
Political scientist Professor Haroon-or-Rashid
Despite repeated instructions from the Center to show a strong stand to the party leaders and workers across the country if the quota reform movement turned into a conflict, it did not happen. In the end, the central leaders desperately urged them to come to the field by phone. After the Uttara area was under the control of the agitators for a few days, former mayor of Gazipur Jahangir Alam was called to step down from the center on July 19. He went down with the party but ended up getting seriously injured himself and one of his companions died. After that, the central leaders called upon Habib Hasan, former Member of Parliament of Uttara area, to step down. He too could not make much of an impact.

Apart from party leaders, common workers are also analyzing these weaknesses. Awami League is in power for four consecutive terms. At this time, on May 5, 2013, the government faced the custodial rampage in Motijheel. The government ended its term in the 10th national elections in 2014 despite continuous strikes and violence by the opposition. Before the last 12th national election, BNP could not overcome the Awami League even with large gatherings. The top leaders of Awami League proudly publicized the fact that BNP was kicked out of the streets with a counter program. But this time the Awami League is facing a challenge due to the situation arising around the quota reform movement, the party's policy makers think.

After the Uttara area was under the control of the agitators for a few days, former mayor of Gazipur Jahangir Alam was called to step down from the center on July 19. He went down with the party but ended up getting seriously injured himself and one of his companions died.
Political scientist Professor Haroon-or-Rashid thinks that the Awami League has failed to understand the magnitude of the quota reform movement. For this, BNP-Jamaat entered into it and led to conflict. He told Prothom Alo that the limitation, weakness and incapacity of Awami League and its affiliated organizations have been seen in preventing this conflict. Because, due to being in power for a long time, infiltrators entered the party in exchange for money. Many have deviated from political ideals and run towards wealth. The leadership of Awami League should take full analysis and measures. Or may be in danger in the future.