The council is going to be held following a directive from AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil, who will open the council. AL Presidium member Abdur Razzak will attend the inaugural session as chief guest, party sources said.

Despite repeated initiative by central AL Organizing Secretary Abdul Mannan, the council could not be held earlier due to internal feud, they said.

Talking to this correspondent yesterday, Jhenidah AL Convener Abdul Hai MP however denied any intra-party feud in the party. "Such rivalry for leadership is not unusual in a big party like AL", he said. Hai is also a probable candidate for the post of district AL president.

In the 1997 council, a committee was formed with advocate Ayub Hossain and Abdul Hai MP as president and general secretary.

As this committee failed to hold the overdue council, a convening committee was formed with Abdul Hai in December 2002 to hold the council within three months. But it could not be held even after 33 months of formation of the convening committee due to alleged internal feud.

Party insiders said leaders and activist are divided into two groups, one backed by Abdul Hai and the other by former organising secretary Tayeb Ali Joarder. Both want their men on the new district committee to be formed.

The internal feud surfaced last year when two rival factions clashed during several party councils at upazila and union levels.

Although the party is dogged by internal conflict, the decision to hold the council has created enthusiasm among dedicated leaders and activists, the insiders said.

Ahead of the council, district level leaders are now lobbying with party stalwarts for posts in the new committee.

Party workers and mid-level leaders want a 'strong committee' through councilors' direct vote, the insiders said.

"We wanted a strong and dynamic leadership to run the organisation boldly, which is possible only through direct election", a top leader of the Sadar thana unit said seeking anonymity.

Aspirant candidates are now keeping close contact with 300 councilors who will attend the council from six upazilas.

Party sources said, convener Abdul Hai, former president of district AL Advocate Ayub Hossain and former vice-president Wahed Joarder may contest for the post of president.

Central joint-convener of Shechchasebak League Saidul Karim Mintu, former organising secretary of district AL Tayeb Ali Joarder and joint-convener of the same unit Shafiqul Islam Opu are now in the race for the post of general secretary.