Dhaka: The 20th National Council of Bangladesh Awami League, one of the oldest political parties of the country, began on Saturday at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka.

Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the two-day council at about 10:10am at the historic venue, the site of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s landmark 7th March address and surrender of Pakistani troops in 1971, reports BSS.

The council venue wore a festive look with crowds of onlookers and organisers to witness the preparedness while in the evening it was illuminated gorgeously and decorated with banners and festoons.

The main stage has been installed in the shape of a ‘boat’, Awami League’s election symbol.

‘Bangladesh is speeding fast in super development highway — now is the time to hold our head high,’ is the theme of the 20th council of the party which saw eight presidents since its founding in 1949 with Sheikh Hasina being its longest serving chief.

The opening session of the council is expected to witness the presence of a number of dignitaries from home and abroad while the list of invitees also included President Abdul Hamid.

Organisers said over 50 guests from 12 countries were expected to join the council while invitation letters were sent to high profile Bangladeshi dignitaries like former president and main opposition Jatiya Party chief HM Ershad, opposition Leader Rawshan Ershad, BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

They said leaders of different other political parties like Rashed Khan Menon and Hasanul Huq Inu, envoys of foreign countries and civil society figures were also invited at the opening of the council.

The main council session will be held on October 23 at Institution of Engineers drawing over 6,500 councilors from across the country a day after it’s opening at the Suhrawardy Udyan.

The council will be entrusted with the task of electing the party’s highest policymaking new working committee while a three-member election commission with Advocate Yusuf Hossain Humayun, prime minister’s adviser Dr Mashiur Rahman and former secretary to the government Rashidul Alam being its members was constituted by now.

The capital Dhaka and major cities and towns were illuminated while digital display boards were installed highlighting the Awami League-led government’s achievements were installed at parts of the city while decorative gates were erected at major thoroughfares important thoroughfares of the city.

Law enforcement agencies said they were enforced a stringent security vigil in the capital coinciding with the council while Awami League sources said some 2,000 trained party volunteers were mobilised to ensure discipline and security in and around the council venue.

‘The party volunteers will work alongside law enforcement agencies in a coordinated way,’ member secretary of Discipline and Volunteer Affairs sub-committee for the council, AFM Bahauddin Nasim told BSS.

He said some 2,000 volunteers were drawn from Swechchhasebak League, Jubo League, Chhatra League and other like minded organisation to ensure security and discipline at the council venue.

Executive director of CRI, the pro-Awami League’s research cell, Sabbir Bin Shams, said the council will be live streamed from the party’s verified webpage, opening up an opportunity for the party leaders, activists and others to get connected online with Suhrawardi Uddyan.