Leaders and activists of the ruling Awami League must be given opportunities for doing business as a reward for their sacrifices for the party in its difficult times, a high-level meeting of the party was told on Saturday. The meeting, however, suggested that the party men should also show restraints, maintain discipline and abide by the laws of the land while seeking business opportunities, meeting sources said.

The meeting was held at the party chief, Sheikh Hasina’s Dhanmondi office between AL general secretary, Syed Ashraful Islam, and its departmental secretaries. It was the first meeting of the party secretaries more than three months after its national council held on July 24, although the party constitution stipulated that the general secretary should call a meeting of the secretaries at least once a month.

The meeting was convened to discuss ways to reactivate the AL’s grassroots units against the backdrop of a stagnation of organisational activities after it assumed power on January 6. Organisational inertia and bickering at different tiers have caused concern among the party high-ups. ‘The party needs leaders and activists and we should offer them something in return for their sacrifices. They should be provided with opportunity for doing business,’ Ashraful was quoted to have told the meeting. But, he issued a note caution, ‘the party men must not go beyond decorum and discipline.’

While briefing newsmen, the AL general secretary warned that stern actions would be taken against corruption and violence, as the party was pledge-bound to fight graft. ‘The party will not tolerate violence and indiscipline and it will take tough actions against whoever will be found guilty of violating discipline,’ he said. The meeting decided that the party would launch a drive to recruit members and renew membership in the second week of November and hold an extended meeting of the party in the third week of next month.

Ashraful assigned the organising secretaries the tasks division-wise asking them to do everything possible to strengthen the party’s bases at the grassroots level. He also asked them to submit reports of their respective units in the next meeting of the Awami League Central Working Committee, the highest policy-making body of the party. Organising secretaries Jahangir Kabir Nanak has been given the responsibilities for Dhaka divisional units, Ahmed Hossain for Chittagong, BM Mozammel Huq for Khulna, Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Swapan for Rajshahi, AFM Bahauddin Nasim for Barisal, Mesbah Uddin Siraj for Sylhet and Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury for Rangpur division.

-New Age