Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital is all set to host the 21st national council of the ruling Awami League to be held on Friday and Saturday (Dec 20 and 21).
The park has been illuminated and decorated with LED boards, banners, festoons and balloons featuring the history of the party in different movements and struggles, including the 1971 Liberation War.
During a visit on Thursday, this correspondent found everyone involved in the preparation of the venue are restlessly working to give a finishing touch to the venue.
The main stage of the venue has been built in the shape of boat, the election symbol of the Awami League while the entire pandal has been decorated with the pictures of Prime Minister and party President Sheikh Hasina’s achievements in the world politics.
A dais has been erected next to the main stage where cultural programmes will be arranged.
Convener of the venue decoration committee Jahangir Kabir Nanak told Barta24.com that they have tried to portray the history of the party and the successes of the prime minister in the decoration.
Main stage in sailboat shape
The main attraction of this year’s venue is the 102-foot long and 40-foot wide central stage, which has been built in the shape of a sailboat.
The giant backdrop features the pictures of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, his daughter Sheikh Hasina, four martyred national leaders – Tajuddin Ahmed, Syed Nazrul Islam, Captain MA Mansur Ali and AHM Qamaruzzaman.
The backdrop also contains the images of four other Awami League founders – Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, Shamsul Huq, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, and Maulana Abdur Rashid Tarkabagis.
Seventy-seven chairs have been kept on the main stage for the central committee leaders while there are 30,000 chairs next to the stage for the leaders and activists. Another 15,000 chairs have been kept on the extended stage. Twenty-eight LED screens have been set up across the council venue.
There is a small boat near the pandal where Sheikh Hasina will release pigeons and balloons to inaugurate the council.
Foolproof security
Law enforcement agencies have built up a security blanket in the entire Suhrawardy Udyan and its adjacent areas to thwart any untoward incidents.
Rapid Action Battalion and police have opened control rooms at the venue while restrictions have been imposed on the entry to Suhrawardy Udyan. Members of the forces responsible for the security of the prime minister are keeping a close watch on the main venue area.
There are five gates in the venue area with the Shikha Chirantani gate remaining reserve for VIPs.
No foreign guests
No foreign guests have been invited to the council as the government has plans to invite foreigners to the Mujib Year celebrations beginning on March 17 next year, marking the birth centenary of Bangabandhu.
However, diplomats of different countries will join the council. Leaders of different parties, professionals and dignitaries have also been invited to the conference.
CRI initiatives
Centre for Research and Information (CRI), the research wing of the Awami League, has come up with different initiatives to highlight the history of the party.
The centre will showcase 10 works during the council – ‘Walk with the Leader’, ‘Road to 21st Council’, ‘Light after Darkness’, ‘Face of ALBD’, ‘ALBD Regional Footprints’, ALBD in Front of a Mirror’, ‘Quests for Future Leadership’, ‘A New Era – Part-1’ and ‘A New Era – Part-2’.
It will arrange a views-exchange meeting titled ‘Bangladesh politics in the thinking of youths’ from 11am to 1pm on the first day which will be joined by 250 youths.
Cultural programme
Renowned artistes, including Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra singers and dance artistes Shibli Mohammad and Shamim Ara Nipa, will perform at the cultural function that will continue for half an hour during the inauguration. However, there will be no theme songs in this year’s council.
Chicken pilau
Food has been arranged for lunch for 50,000 people on the first day of the council. The lunch packet will include chicken pilau, egg, firni and water bottle.
There will be 12 first aid centres manned by 100 physicians at the venue.
Jute bag gift
The councillors and delegates will be given jute bags as gift each containing a card describing the development activities during the Awami League government, two CDs -- one narrating the development work of the AL government and the other highlighting the ‘negative politics’ of BNP, a copy of AL constitution, declaration, a pad and a pen.