Zakir Hossain / Dhaka
Amid growing calls from the BNP for an early national election in Bangladesh, the newly formed student-led National Citizen Party (NCP) has firmly stated that no polls will be allowed before the former PM Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League (AL) party is put on trial and comprehensive political reforms are implemented.
Speaking at a large rally in front of the South Gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka on Friday, NCP Convener Nahid Islam demanded a complete ban on AL’s political activities and immediate cancellation of its registration.
“Awami League is not a political party but a terrorist organisation. Its activists were involved in the killings at Shapla Chattar, the anti-Modi rally, and the July mass uprising,” Nahid alleged, urging the interim government to legislate such a ban during the ongoing trial of AL leaders and activists.
He reiterated the demand later at the 5th founding anniversary of the AB Party at the Jatiya Press Club, saying, “On August 5, the people of Bangladesh delivered a verdict against the Awami League. They declared that this party should no longer be allowed to do politics in this country.”
Nahid, a former adviser for information and broadcasting in the interim government, stated that a public uprising had taken place, rejecting both Mujibism and the Awami League. “Amid public outrage, Awami League leaders fled the country,” he said. “When we say the people will decide the fate of Awami League, there are two paths – one through voting and the other through street protests. On August 5, the latter occurred,” he noted.
“There should be no debate about whether the Awami League can continue in politics. They’ve lost the moral right to do so. Now the question is how the legal process will move forward,” Nahid added. He concluded by calling for a democratic path forward through judicial proceedings, stressing, “The Awami League’s registration must be cancelled, and its organisational activities banned immediately. Only then can we move toward a fair resolution.”