Awami League (AL) is adamant to keep its associated organisations in its constitution while bringing a few changes to it including provisions for 33 percent quota for women at all levels and giving nominations on the basis of recommendations from the grassroots level.

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The central working committee of the party--its highest decision making body--will sit at party chief Sheikh Hasina's political office in Dhanmondi on Saturday to bring the amendments in a bid to get registered with the Election Commission (EC).

"The associated organisations must stay with the A warn i League and there is no scope for misunderstanding because these organisations are the party's heritage," acting AL President Zillur Rahman said last night.

The working committee will, however, take decision on the matter, he told reporters after a meeting with all of the party's associated bodies at his Gulshan residence.

The AL meanwhile filled in the EC registration form yesterday. The form will be submitted to the EC along with a resolution of the meeting of the working committee.

AL sources said the meeting would also discuss the party's election manifesto, election preparation and campaign, and formation of the grand electoral alliance, among others.

They said the central working committee would take a resolution not to sever links with its associated organisations and urge the EC to amend the rules related to the matter in the Representation of the People Order (RPO).

"We will obviously amend some of the clauses in our constitution for registration," said acting AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam, adding that the amendments would be brought after an intense discussion at the working committee's meeting.

Replying to a query, he said getting registered in line with the

RPO rules would not reduce Hasina's power.

AL Organising Secretary Abdul Mannan said, "We will take a resolution at the meeting to keep the associated organisations in the party constitution and the resolution will be sent to the Election Commission along with the application form."

While talking to reporters after a meeting in Dhanmondi office, Syed Ashraf said keeping of the associated organisations in the party constitution, giving party nominations based on recommendations from the party's grassroots level leaders and fulfilling 33 percent quota for women, among other issues, would get priority at the working committee meeting.

Asked about his earlier speech that they would cut links with the associated organisations, Ashraf said they told the EC that the associated organisations would exist and their names would be present in the party constitution and that the EC accepted their demand.

Chief Election Commissioner ATM Shamsul Huda said on Wednesday that political parties do not need to completely sever ties with all front or associated organisations to meet the registration criteria.

"Only dissolve the organisations formed with students, teachers and labourers in the party constitution and make separate rules and by-laws, if necessary, regarding these bodies," Huda

According to clause 27(c) of the AL constitution, nominations have to be given by the party's Parliamentary Board on the basis of recommendations of district, upazila or thana level executive committees. After amending tire

constitution their recommendations would get more priority.

"We have reviewed the nominations of the stalled January 22 parliamentary election and two other previous polls. We are also receiving suggestions from the grassroots level leaders and their recommendations would be given importance while selecting candidates this year," said Ashraf.

Meanwhile, AL Advisory Council member HT Imam told The Daily Star that the party's election manifesto would be completed by this month.

Ashraf said food autarky, bringing essentials' prices within people's reach, improvement of law and order, continuing anticorruption drive, creating employment, and increasing local and international investment, among other important issues, would be incorporated in the manifesto.

Urging the government and the EC to ensure participation of all political parties in the upcoming parliamentary election, he also pledged to reinstate the 1972 constitution if voted to power with two-thirds majority.

If any political party shows reluctance in taking part in the election and getting registered with the EC, the government and the EC should find out the reasons and solve those through discussion, he said, expressing interest to hold dialogues with both the EC and the government to resolve any crisis created before the election.

Ashraf said there is no need to keep the state of emergency in force during the election as the existing law enforcement agencies are enough to maintain law and