Awami League opens ‘party office’ in Kolkata, activities continue

After the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government on August 5 last year, most of her party leaders and activists have now migrated. A large part of them have migrated to neighboring India. Now it has been learned that an ‘Awami League party office’ has been opened in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, and party activities are underway there. Such information has recently emerged in a BBC Bangla report.

What is that party office like?

The BBC has reported that this activity is going on in a complex in a commercial area of ​​somewhere in Kolkata. According to the news, as soon as you take the elevator of the commercial area and turn left, you will see the office of a commercial organization. There are light brown doors on both sides of the corridor. One of them is the Awami League party office. Why only outside? Even if you peek into the 2500 or 2600 square feet room, no one will understand that the Awami League is involved in any way with this room. There is no signboard, no picture of Sheikh Hasina or Sheikh Mujibur Rahman anywhere outside or inside the room. In this regard, an Awami League leader said, “We did not keep any pictures or signboards of Bangabandhu or the leader. We did not want this room to be known. Even the files etc. that are kept in a party office were not kept here. A room was needed for regular meetings, meetings etc., and this was found. We call it the party office, but in reality it is a commercial office. We use the chairs and tables left by the organizations that used to work here before.” He said that meetings of 30-35 people are held in this office, but they have to be squeezed in a little. Small meetings are still held at the homes of various leaders. However, for large meetings, where a couple of hundred leaders and activists are expected to attend, a banquet hall or a part of a restaurant is rented for such meetings. Who travels to the ‘party office’? Many top leaders and former ministers of the Awami League and its affiliates who left Bangladesh for India after August 5 last year are staying in rented houses in Kolkata or its surrounding areas. Apart from these, various professionals, government employees, police officers and retired army officers have also moved to India. Six months ago, Awami League sources had informed that at least 70 members of parliament, presidents and secretaries of various districts of the Awami League, upazila parishad chairmen, mayors and about 200 top leaders are staying in Kolkata and adjoining areas. Some of them live with their families, while others have rented a flat together. Some families sometimes come from Bangladesh and spend a few days there. An Awami League leader said that the number has not increased much now. Currently, there are about 80 members of parliament of the 12th parliament and 10-12 leaders who were members of parliament before that. Again, some have come who have come to Kolkata and gone to America, Canada, Australia or other countries. He said that there is no fixed time for opening the office. The leaders come as needed. Again, not everyone comes every day. In fact, there was a need to establish a specific place, that is why this party office was opened. However, the BBC did not reveal where or in which area of Kolkata this party office was opened.