Activities of fascist party Awami League banned in Bangladesh

Md Mahbub Hasan Tutul, Dhaka Correspondent

The party that was in power in Bangladesh for 16 years was banned today. All types of activities of the political party Bangladesh Awami League have been banned. The interim government has taken this decision under the Anti-Terrorism Act. That is, politics cannot be done in this name in Bangladesh anymore. A notification in this regard will be issued tomorrow, Monday.

The decision was taken on Saturday night in an emergency meeting of the Advisory Council led by Chief Advisor Dr. Yunus. According to the decision, the party will be tried under the International Crimes Tribunal Act. Until this trial, all types of activities of the Awami League and its organs and affiliates will be banned.

The three-hour meeting was held from 8 pm to 11 pm at the official residence of the Chief Advisor, Jamuna. After the meeting, Legal Advisor Dr. Asif Nazrul spoke to journalists in front of the Jamuna. Advisor on Forest, Environment and Climate Affairs Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Information and Broadcasting Advisor Mahfuz Alam, and Sports Advisor Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiya were present at the time.

Asif Nazrul said, three decisions were taken in the special meeting of the advisory council. Among them is the approval of the amendment to the International Crimes Tribunal Act.

According to the amendment, this tribunal will be able to punish any political party, party affiliate, supporter organization or its leaders and activists. Until the trial of the Awami League and its leaders in the International Crimes Tribunal is completed, it has been decided to ban all activities of the Awami League, including cyberspace, under the Anti-Terrorism Act to protect the security and sovereignty of the country, the security of the leaders and activists of the July Movement, and the protection of the plaintiffs and witnesses of the Crimes Tribunal.

The necessary circular in this regard will be issued on the next working day. In addition, it has been decided in the meeting of the advisory council to finalize and publish the July Declaration within the next 30 working days. The country became agitated with the demand to ban the Awami League.

This movement began after 10 pm on May 7. At the call of Hasnat Abdullah, the chief organizer of the National Citizens Party (NCP) in the southern region, the protesters began to gather in front of the residence of the chief advisor, Jamuna. As the night fell, the scene changed. Leaders and activists of various political parties and organizations including NCP, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Hefazat-e-Islam, Islami Andolon, Islami Chhatra Shibir, and Gana Adhikar Parishad gradually began to arrive. Family members of the victims of the Shapla Chattar and Peelkhana massacres, as well as injured July fighters, took to the field.

After the protests continued all night on Thursday, a large gathering was held in front of the fountain next to the Jamuna on Friday after Juma prayers. Calls for a Shahbag blockade were made. On that day, the protesters took positions at some entrances to Dhaka, including Uttara in the capital. The movement also spread to divisional cities or districts and upazilas.

They also took to the streets in unison, demanding a ban on the Awami League. NSP convener Nahid Islam has already warned of a ‘March to Dhaka’ again if a decision is not made. At the same time, it was announced that the program would continue with three-point demands. The interim government issued a statement saying that it has taken the matter seriously.
A statement sent from the press wing said, ‘

The government has already contacted all political parties. A decision will be taken quickly after discussing with them. In this regard, the government is taking into consideration the UN report on the terrorist activities of Awami League leaders and supporters.’ However, the protesters announced that they would not leave the ground until it is fully implemented.

The report of the United Nations High Commission on Human Rights mentions that during its 16-year rule since 2009, the Awami League has committed crimes such as irregularities, genocide, disappearances, murder, torture, money laundering and other human rights violations.

The report directly accuses the party’s president, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Sheikh Hasina illegally retained power by rigging three national elections in 2014, 2018 and 2024. And there is no crime that she did not commit to retain power. The people of the country became fed up with reckless crimes and atrocities. Then, in the face of student and public protests, Hasina fled the country to India on August 5 last year. At that time, her party, the Awami League, faced the biggest disaster in history.

After that, demands were made to ban the Awami League from various quarters. However, the UN report recommended not to ban the political party.

On Saturday afternoon, leaders of various parties and organizations participating in the July Movement, including the NCP, pledged to put the final nail in the coffin of fascism from Shahbagh.

On Saturday afternoon, a mass rally was held under the banner of National Unity Against Fascism, demanding three points including banning the Awami League. They expressed their commitment by participating in it. They said, “Our fight is the fight of pro-Bangladesh people against fascism.”

At that time, the speakers warned that they would remain in the field until the Awami League was banned and that if they did not take immediate action, they would also lose confidence in the government. Finally, the activities of the Awami League were banned.