In a significant political development, the central committee of the Bangladesh Awami League has convened a virtual meeting chaired by ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina. A party organising secretary confirmed that the online session took place on Friday night, bringing together senior figures despite the party’s activities currently being prohibited within Bangladesh.
Several members of the central committee and the secretariat joined the discussions virtually from India and various other international locations. Notably, the session also included individuals who do not currently hold formal positions on the central committee but are reportedly slated for future leadership roles within the party.
This clandestine coordination occurs against the backdrop of a radically altered political landscape in Bangladesh. On the fifth of August 2024, a mass uprising toppled Sheikh Hasina’s administration, prompting her to depart the country alongside her sister, Sheikh Rehana, bound for India. She has remained abroad ever since, directing party affairs through remote communication.
According to internal party sources, a primary focus of the meeting centred on restructuring the organisation in anticipation of Sheikh Hasina’s stated intention to return to the country this coming December to face legal proceedings. The former leader has previously expressed a desire to return alongside other senior party members and submit to the nation’s judicial process.
During the session, leaders delivered speeches analysing the contemporary political situation in Bangladesh and deliberated on strategic next steps. In a notable resolution, the party expressed solidarity with the programmes of the Jubo League, its associated youth wing which has also faced government bans. Furthermore, discussions were held regarding the inclusion of three new faces into the central leadership structure, with final announcements regarding these appointments expected at a later date.
