BNP’s Salahuddin welcomes ban, says Awami League no longer a political party

BNP Standing Committee Member on Sunday welcomed the government’s decision to ban activities of the Awami League, saying the party no longer functions as a political entity.

Ahmed made the remarks while speaking to reporters after attending a seminar hosted by the Nagorik Coalition at the International Mother Language Institute in Dhaka.

“Awami League is no longer a political party. It is a mafia force; it is a fascist force,” he said. “So I do not want to give it a political label. There is no democracy or democratic practice in the DNA of the Awami League.”

The senior BNP leader said the government has taken steps to ban the Awami League under the Anti-Terrorism Act. “For this, I think the government will have to amend the Anti-Terrorism Act to some extent,” he added.

Responding to a question, he rhetorically questioned, “Does the world recognise the Awami League as a political party? Do the people of this country recognise the Awami League as a political party?”

“The Awami League is a fascist force. It has reduced itself to a mafia force .... It has met its end through oppression, repression, and genocide.”

When asked why the BNP has not staged protests at Shahbagh, Ahmed said the BNP had already communicated its position.

“We informed the Chief Adviser about banning the Awami League both in writing and orally a few months ago,” he said. “We have spoken about it in several meetings and seminars. Why should we go to Shahbagh now to repeat it?”

The National Citizens Party (NCP) initiated protests last week to press for a series of demands, including a ban on the Awami League.

Jamaat-e-Islami, Islamic Andolon, the AB Party, and other groups linked to the July uprising expressed support for the NCP’s call.

The protest began around 10 pm on Thursday in front of Jamuna, the official residence of the interim government’s chief adviser, and later shifted to Shahbagh on Friday afternoon.

The BNP did not join the protests, with its leaders saying amid criticism the decision to ban the Awami League was a matter for the government or the election commission, not for the BNP.

Amid the demonstrations, the government on Saturday banned the political activities of the Awami League under the Anti-Terrorism Act, citing national security concerns.