Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan, Advisor to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development (LGRD) and Cooperatives, said that the current government will soon take steps to ban Awami League as a political party. There have been mixed reactions from various political figures on this.
The advisor officially stated to the state-run BSS in an interview that first of all, a kind of 'consensus' is being formed among political parties to ban Awami League. If such a consensus is formed among political parties, it will be easier for the government to implement a decision. He further added, apart from the judicial process, there are four laws where the government can take action against any party through an executive order. However, the government has not yet decided what its legal framework will be.
In this context, Sultan Salauddin Tuku, the Publicity Secretary of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), told the Daily Observer, "The Awami League has committed many murders and assassinations in the last 15 and a half years. It has killed our leaders and activists. It has killed and murdered scholars and clerics. Most recently, they have killed, murdered and injured thousands of students. In addition, AL had engaged in black marketing in the stock market, corporate corruption and money laundering. After fascist Sheikh Hasina is tried, the Awami League will be banned. And only then will national elections be held."
Ruhin Hossain (Prince), General Secretary of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) said, "Everyone has the right to hold meetings and rallies. It is not clear to us on what grounds the government wants to ban Awami League. Once it is clear to us, we will make a statement about it. However, it will not be auspicious to ban the Awami League. That is, banning any political party would be foolish for this Interim Government."
Masud Rana, coordinator of the Central Executive Forum of the Socialist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist) said, "The July massacre took place during the Awami regime. We demand exemplary punishment for those involved in the July massacre. Innumerable people have been injured in this. Government must arrange treatment and rehabilitation of injured students. Sheikh Hasina, accused of genocide, is delivering one after another provocative political speeches while sitting on Indian soil. Although Interim Government has officially called for her extradition, the Indian government has not responded.
Moreover, the former PM is also trying to defend the July killings which are unlawful. Awami League has no regrets about the July killings. Rather, it is questioning validity of the Interim Government in various ways. And if the Awami League does not apologize for the massacre in public, it has no moral right to do politics in Bangladesh. And I expect the government to consider various aspects and decide whether to ban Awami League or not.”
On the ban issue, Maulana Gazi Ataur Rahman, Senior Joint Secretary General of Islamic Movement Bangladesh said, "We are not clear about this issue of the government. However, we are not in favour of banning any political party. I also agree with what the Ameer of our party said. Awami League did not allow our people to hold three consecutive general elections. Therefore, we will also not allow them to participate in three elections. However, those who are guilty must be tried under domestic law."
However, Sujit Roy Nandi, Organizing Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League, said, "Our party is an old and traditional political party. This party led the liberation war. The government's demand to ban this party is nothing but stupidity. There is good and bad in us. We want to move forward with all parties and people. But the current government is not giving us the right to speak. Many of our leaders and workers have been arrested, tortured and killed which the current government is not addressing properly. Therefore, we have the right to speak. This government is not allowing us to do that either."
