The ruling Awami League is trying to restore people’s confidence in the party by showing its controversial leaders the door.
Insiders said ahead of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the party president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wants to shoot for the moon by restoring people’s confidence in the country’s one of the oldest political organisations.
In recent times, the party has refrained from nominating the controversial leaders in national and local government elections.
The latest example is AJM Nasir Uddin who has not been nominated to contest the upcoming Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) polls. Nasir, who is the incumbent mayor of the CCC, drew flak in the party for his various controversial activities.
The party also dropped immediate past Dhaka South City Corporation mayor Sayeed Khokan for his controversial activities.
Insiders said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is running drives in the party to free it from the clutches of corrupt persons and intruders who have been tarnishing the image of the party after being involved in misdeeds and other irregularities.
The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on Saturday arrested Juba Mohila League leader Shamima Nur Papiya for her misdeeds.
Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader said Papiya was arrested as per the directive of the Prime Minister.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has ordered the law enforcement agencies to arrest Papiya and bring her to book through an investigation,” he said, adding that none would be spared for committing crimes.As part of its shooting for the moon plea, the party has taken a move to bring clean-image leadership in the party and its associate bodies. AL president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reiterated that the ongoing drives against wrongdoers would continue.
As the party has been in office for the third consecutive terms, many leaders, including ministers and lawmakers across the country, are using the party to make wealth through illegal means.
Being cornered by that fortune maker group, dedicated leaders and activists have been requesting the party president to run a reform in all tiers of the party to put the wrongdoers and intruders on the dock and free the party from their influence.
Party insiders said a section of leaders have become Frankenstein as the party is in power for the third consecutive terms.
Although the reformation is a much needed one, none can raise their voices properly. They feel for the cleansing drive and their dreams come true through Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s order to the law enforcement agencies to run drive against illegal casino businesses, corrupt persons and construction moguls.
As part of the ongoing drive, the law enforcers have arrested many leaders of the associate bodies and seized huge amount of illegal money, drugs and weapons.
Earlier, the Awami League relieved Juba League former chairman Omar Faroque Chowdhury amid allegations of corruption, patronising casino owners and misbehaving with party leaders.
The reformation started through relieving Bangladesh Chhatra League president Rezwanul Haque Chowdhury Shovon and general secretary Golam Rabbani of their respective posts.
Since September 18, RAB and police have raided different clubs across Bangladesh, busting illegal casinos.
A number of leaders, including leaders of associate bodies, were detained and then shown arrested after the raids.
Juba League Dhaka south unit president Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Samrat, his accomplice vice-president Anamul Haque Arman, organising secretary Khaled Mahmud Bhuiyan, construction mogul GK Shamim, Krishak League leader Shafiqul Alam Firoz and a Dhaka North City Corporation ward councillor Tarequzzaman Rajib were arrested and expelled from the organisation for their alleged involvement with illegal casino businesses and other irregularities.