“If the anti-fascist forces remain united, the Awami League will not be able to reestablish itself in Bangladesh”
Hasnat Abdullah
The National Citizen Party (NCP) has demanded the banning of the Awami League through the July Charter, as mentioned by the chief adviser of the interim government, and called for national unity, comprising all political parties, regardless of their differences. Akhtar Hossain, the member secretary of the party, called upon all political and anti-fascist forces to ensure that, politically, the July Charter must include a provision for banning the AL based on national consensus. He made these statements at a protest rally organized in front of the National Museum at Shahbagh at 3:30pm on Saturday.
Professor Yunus, the chief adviser of the interim government, told visiting US Senator Gary Peters on Tuesday that political parties would sign the July Charter once they agreed to the reforms proposed by the major commissions.
Prof Yunus said: “The July Charter will set the future course of the country.”
Hasnat Abdullah, chief organizer (South) of the party, emphasized that if the anti-fascist forces remain united, the Awami League will not be able to reestablish itself in Bangladesh. He called for maintaining national unity during this crisis.
Addressing the political parties, he said:
“We may differ in opinions, but don’t forget the oppression that the Awami League inflicted upon you.”
The NCP also urged the interim government to bring the Awami League to justice, demanding that no organizational or political activities be carried out under the Awami League’s name, claiming that the party is an imported power rather than a legitimate political party.
Akhtar Hossain asserted that Awami League’s registration should be canceled within the shortest possible timeframe. “If not, the student masses will once again take to the streets and force the authorities to cancel Awami League’s registration,” he warned.
Hasnat Abdullah said that Awami League lost its political rights in Bangladesh on August 5th and referred to the party as an extension of Indian hegemony.
“This Indian hegemony will not be allowed to return to Bangladesh ever again,” Hasnat added.
NCP leaders further said that every time the Awami League came to power, the lives of the masses were put at risk.
If anyone attempts to reinstate the Awami League, they will have to pay the price with their lives, they said. The NCP also insisted that no inclusivity would be allowed for Awami League in the national election in a Bangladesh where the bloodstains of the July martyrs are still fresh.
Akhtar Hossain emphasized that not only Awami League’s leaders and activists but also the party itself must be brought to justice.
He called for the cancellation of Awami League’s registration and the imposition of a ban on its political and organizational activities.
“We must ensure that in the coming days, no politics in the name of Awami League or its ideology will continue in Bangladesh,” he said.
Regarding the Bangladesh Army, Hasnat Abdullah clarified that rather than opposing any institutions, the NCP aims to restore those institutions that were destroyed during the Awami League regime.
“We have absolute trust, support, and respect for the Bangladesh Army,” he said.
Source: Dhaka Tribune
