Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina officially inaugurated party's 22nd National Council on Saturdaymorning.
Around 10:20 am, the prime minister arrived at Suhrawardy Udyan. She started the meeting by hoisting the national flag and releasing a white pigeon and balloons.
On her arrival at the venue, the party's senior leaders received Sheikh Hasina, also president of the AL.
The main theme of this year's council is 'Unnoyon Abhijatrai Deshratna Sheikh Hasinar Netritte Bangabandhur Swapner Unnoto, Samridho O Smart Bangladesh Gorar Protoye'.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, MP, will place the report of the general secretary while AL Presidium Member and reception committee convener Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim,MP, is expected to deliver the address of welcome.
Barrister Biplab Barua will place the obituary references.
Around 7,000 each councilors and delegates and thousands of the AL leaders and activists thronged the venue.
The opening session will culminate with a lunch break and time for prayer. The council meeting will then take place in the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, auditorium (IEB). During the meeting, the party's president and general secretary will be chosen.
To choose the leadership, a three-person election commission has already been formed
The council has 11 subcommittees working for it. As per the tradition, the council preparation committee is headed by party president Sheikh Hasina, and its member secretary is general secretary Obaidul Quader.
Besides, LED monitors are put in the council venue.
The party's manifesto for the election will focus on "smart Bangladesh" by 2041.
Along with Padma Bridge, which is 80 feet long and 44 feet broad, the stage was constructed to resemble a boat.
The AL has invited the leaders of other political parties in the nation, including the BNP and Jatiya Party, but has not invited any representatives of international political parties to the council's inaugural session.
Along with well-known citizens of the nation, ministers, and legislators, invitations were sent to foreign envoys stationed in Dhaka.
Images of some government accomplishments, such as the Padma Bridge, Metro Rail, and Bangabandhu Satellite, as well as pictures and portraits of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and their families, have been used to decorate the event space and the surrounding areas.
The council is set up simply as part of continuing austerity in light of the global economic crisis.
In the past, council meetings were held over two days, but this time, in an effort to cut costs, council is being held on a single day.
The East Pakistan Awami Muslim League was first introduced at Dhaka's famed Rose Garden, but during its third council in 1955, the term "Muslim" was abolished to make the party more inclusive and secular.
Sheikh Hasina has served as party leader nine times; Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman have served as leader of the party four times each.
Tajuddin Ahmed served as the AL's general secretary four times, while Zillur Rahman, Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, and Bangabandhu each held the position three times.
