Morning News
24th July 1957
AL to Hold All-Pakistan Convention IN Dacca
Counteracting Bhashani’s Move
By a Staff Reporter
The East Pakistan Awami League high command is understood to have decided to hold an All-Pakistan convention in Dacca within a month with the obvious intention of counteracting the move launched by its rebel President. Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani to unite the “democratic forces” in the country.
The decision was taken at the concluding session of the two-day joint conference of the East Pakistan Awami League Working Committee and the presidents and secretaries of the district and subdivisional Awami League organizations held in Dacca last night. The recent activities of the Maulana came under heavy criticism in the meeting and the Working Committee was authorised to take any decision with regard to the “expulsion of the Maulana” from the Awami League. The suggestion was made by some influential members and accepted by the meeting, it is reported.
The working Committee will meet again on July 27 to adopt measures in the interest of the organization and the country” the Awami League General Secretary, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, said in a statement on the conclusion of the meeting.
The meeting was presided over by the Vice-President, Maulana Abdur Rashid Tarkabagish, and was attended by, among others, the acting Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Abdul Mansoor Ahmed, who arrived in Dacca earlier in the afternoon from Karachi, Chief Minister, Mr. Ataur Rahman Khan, and a number of his Cabinet colleagues. The meeting, which deliberated for about seven hours with a break for about half an hour for the evening prayers, covered wide range of subjects with particular reference to the present split in the organisation and the move to form a new political party under the leadership of Maulana Bhashani. The representatives of the districts apprised the Working Committee of the political and food situation of their respective areas and suggested ways and means to overcome the situation arising out of the “frustration of the rank and file workers of the Awami League.”
It transpired at the meeting that in certain areas such as Mymensingh and Sylhet the Awami League had lost ground. The meeting also discussed food situation which was reported to have improved as a result of good harvest.
The meeting, which was attended by over 100 Awami Leaguers including the Working Committee members, heard their General Secretary, Mr. Mujibur Rahman speak for about an hour. He was stated to have dwelt mainly on the organizational matters with particular reference to the resignations submitted ….