Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the newly constructed head office building of Bangladesh Awami League at city’s Bangabandhu Avenue at Gulistan here today, coinciding the 69th founding anniversary of the party.

Sheikh Hasina, also the president of Awami League, unveiled the plaque of the 10-storey building at 23 Bangabandhu Avenue amid a number of ceremonies, reports the BSS.

The ceremonies included hoisting of the national flag by the prime minister and party flag by party’s general secretary Obaidul Kader and playing the national anthem.

The prime minister released pigeons and balloons and planted a sapling in front of the building. A munajat was offered on the occasion.

Later, the prime minister flanked with central leaders of the party visited different rooms of the office building.

The building, constructed on 8 kathas of land with modern facilities, will have offices for the party president, general secretary, presidium members, joint general secretaries and associate organisations.

The office is equipped with a digital library, VIP lounge, journalists’ lounge, prayers room, restroom, dormitory, canteen and lift.

The name of ‘Bangladesh Awami League’ has been inscribed with large steel alphabets on the building’s front side. Party symbol ‘Boat’ is next to that.

A mural of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is on the upper side of the building. Murals of Liberation War and surrender of Pakistani troops at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan have also been set at the building.

‘Joy Bangla Joy Bangabandhu’ slogan and four principles of the party have been inscribed on the front wall of the building. The party has a plan to build a permanent monument in memory of the August 21, 2004 martyrs in front of the building.

AL sources said after the inauguration of the building, all organisational activities of the party will be held there.

But, election campaigning and activities of party’s research wing – Centre for Research and information (CRI) – will be conducted from the party president’s political office in Dhanmondi.