BNP senior leader Salahuddin Ahmed has said that the Awami League can no longer participate in politics under its existing name, as the people of Bangladesh have rejected its "fascist" rule through the mass uprising in July.
Speaking at a discussion on Wednesday, he also called for the trial of the Awami League for its involvement in mass killings and crimes against humanity.
The Anchalik Sampadak Parishad organised the event titled "National Unity and Current Reality" at the Jatiya Press Club.
“We want to make it clear that the people of Bangladesh have rejected the fascist politics of the Awami League through the uprising of students and the masses, driving them out of the country. We are now raising the demand that the Awami League can no longer do politics in Bangladesh in the name of Awami League,” the BNP leader said.
He criticised the interim government for its failure to take necessary steps for the trial of the Awami League.
“We demand the trial of the Awami League as a political organisation for mass killings and crimes against humanity,” Salahuddin said.
He also said it should be determined through the judicial process whether the Awami League should be allowed to engage in politics in Bangladesh, or not.
The BNP leader said the people of Bangladesh want the Awami League's fascist politics to be eliminated from the country. “You (govt) can take steps in this regard.”
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“On the one hand, you want to ban the Awami League, yet on the other hand, you won’t prosecute them, and further, you use the police to obstruct their political programmes. These are contradictions, and it is not right,” he observed.
Salahuddin said they support the government’s action of not allowing the Awami League to take to the streets to carry out political activities. “But how long will you stop them on the streets using the police? You say you don’t want the Awami League in the election and that the party should not be allowed to do politics, but what steps are you taking? Are you taking any legal action against them? No.”
Under Article 47 of the Constitution, he said, the government can prosecute the Awami League as a political organisation and initiate legal proceedings against it for mass killings and crimes against humanity.
Accordingly, the BNP leader said the country’s people and their party demanded an amendment to the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Act. “This government had taken steps to amend the ordinance and law, but suddenly, at a meeting of the advisory council, it was decided that this cannot be done. Why?”
He said the government can promulgate an ordinance if necessary for the trial of the Awami League.
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Salahuddin said some are suggesting that the International Criminal Tribunal may give an observation regarding the Awami League’s politics during the trial proceedings against the party leaders.
“That would be a very weak observation. Even then, you will have to issue an administrative order and make laws based on that observation. But you can take that step now (through an ordinance),” he said.
The BNP leader said he is not certain whether the judicial reform commission formed by the government will provide any recommendations in this regard. “But I have doubts whether the judicial system of Bangladesh can be completely independent while keeping the night-time judges in place.”
He warned the government that it will never succeed by keeping the ghosts of fascism and the cohorts of the Awami League in important positions across various offices, ministries, administrations, and the judiciary.
“So, whether it is the judiciary, administration, or elections, you need to clean up the fascists everywhere. Through democratic reform, we want to establish a constitutional political government, and for that, priority must be given to election-related reforms,” Salahuddin said.
He urged the government to identify election-related reforms that can be implemented in the short term. “Then discuss them with all stakeholders, including political parties, and make the necessary legal amendments. If institutional reforms are needed after the legal amendments, you can also do it...we know how much time it will take for that.”
The BNP leader said the Election Commission has nearly completed the preparation of the voter list, which will be finalised by March 2. “Following that, objections will be heard in a continuous process, expected to be completed within two months… Delimitation will be completed on time, and other electoral activities won’t require much, except for legal reforms. So if you adopt any strategy to buy more time, the nation will not accept it.”
He called upon the government to come up with an electoral roadmap through discussions with the relevant stakeholders. “People will accept that electoral roadmap if it seems reasonable.”