The ruling Awami League would hold its 20th triennial council on July 10-11.

AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam yesterday announced the new date for the council at a press conference at the party chief's Dhanmondi office.

The party's last council was held on December 29, 2012. The current committee expired on December 28 last year.

The AL central working committee (ALCWC), the highest decision-making body of the party, in January decided to extend the tenure of the committee by six months. It again extended the tenure by three more months at a meeting on March 20.

That meeting decided to hold the council in July this year.

On September 11 last year, the ALCWC decided to hold the council in December but failed. The date was again deferred to March 28 at a meeting held on January 9.

The party has already formed a 67-member council preparation committee headed by party chief Sheikh Hasina and with Syed Ashraful Islam as the member secretary. Besides, the party has constituted 11 sub-committees with senior leaders as conveners to make the council a success.

Syed Ashraf termed the council a "big issue" and said it creates leadership. "The Awami League's council is always historic. The decisions of the country's independence and also movement for language in 1952 were made at Awami League councils," he said.

Historical decisions might be made in the next council like before, said Ashraf, also minister for public administration.