We are happy with decision to stop AL activities: Fakhrul 

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is happy with the government’s decision to stop the organizational activities of the Awami League (AL).

The party's Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said this in a statement on Sunday (May 11).

"We’re pleased that, although delayed, the interim government has decided last night (Saturday) to wind up the activities of the fascist party, Awami League and all its affiliated organizations, in order to expedite the trial of those linked to the fascist regime for crimes against humanity and to ensure a smooth judicial process," he said. 

“However, if this decision would have been taken earlier by accepting our demands, the government could have avoided the awkward and undesirable situation of acting it under pressure,” he added.

He continued, "We hope that the interim government will keep this matter in mind carefully in conducting future activities."

“We urge the interim government to aware the growing public anger caused by the continued neglect of the call for a clear and specific roadmap to restore democracy,” he added.The BNP Secretary General said, "We consider the decision to try the fascist party, which has carried out enforced disappearances, murders, oppression and misrule against the people for a long time, through judicial process, to be right."

 

Referring to previous meetings with the Chief Adviser regarding the demand for the trial of the fascist regime and its allies, Mirza Fakhrul stated, “In the letter submitted to him (Professor Muhammad Yunus) on February 10, we called for bringing Awami League, as a political party, under judicial proceedings for genocide and crimes against humanity.”

He went on, saying “In our most recent meeting with the Chief Adviser on April 16, we reiterated our demand for the trial of the ousted fascist party, all individuals associated with its government, and for cleansing the country's political landscape of such elements.”

It is worth noting that the BNP had opposed the previous government’s decision to ban Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, taken just before the fall of that fascist regime, on the grounds that their party rejects the banning of political parties through administrative orders, he mentioned.

The BNP Secretary General said, “In the discussion, we made it clear that banning the fascist party Awami League through legal means is possible, and it should do. We have consistently raised these demands in various meetings, rallies, and discussions.” 

 

Reiterating the demand for the announcement of an election roadmap, Mirza Fakhrul said, “For 16 years, the people — deprived of their right to vote — have continued their struggle for the restoration of voting rights and democracy. Despite facing enforced disappearances, killings, imprisonment, and repression, they have resisted fascism. Yet, their demand remains unmet.”