Abu Jakir :
In an unexpected twist, the Bangladesh Awami League (AL), one of the nation’s oldest political parties, now finds itself in a precarious position.
A writ petition was filed with the High Court on Monday, seeking a ban on the party and the cancellation of its registration as a political entity.
This legal challenge comes in the wake of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and subsequent fleeing from the country.
Sheikh Hasina fled following a successful student-led movement that led to the ousting of her government.
The petition, lodged by Arifur Rahman Bhuiyan, the Executive Director of the rights organisation Sarda Society, accuses the Awami League of mass killings during its tenure.
According to Bhuiyan, the party’s actions while in power have rendered it unfit to participate in the country’s political landscape.
The petition also calls for the renaming of all national institutions currently bearing Sheikh Hasina’s name.
Bhuiyan argues that such changes are essential to mark a new era in Bangladesh’s history and to dissociate the nation’s identity from the previous regime.
In addition to seeking the dissolution of the Awami League, the petition demands that the current interim government be granted a minimum of three years to implement necessary reforms.
These proposed reforms include the transfer of all contractual appointments made under the previous Awami League administration.
Bhuiyan contends that this extended period is crucial for ensuring a fair and thorough transition to a new governance framework, free from the influences of the former ruling party.
The petition is set to be heard by a High Court division bench comprising Justice A K M Asaduzzaman and Justice Muhammad Mahbub Ul Islam.
The case has attracted significant attention, as its outcome could have far-reaching implications for the political landscape of Bangladesh, potentially reshaping the country’s governance structure for years to come.
Arifur’s petition further demands the replacement of numerous officials appointed during the Awami League’s tenure. This includes high-ranking figures such as the chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC), departmental commissioners, police officials, and other key administrators.
The petitioner calls for the formation of an impartial judicial commission to investigate these officials and ensure that the country’s institutions are free from the previous government’s influence.
The legal challenge is a striking reversal of fortunes for the Awami League, a party that once stood at the forefront of Bangladesh’s independence movement in 1971.
Established on June 23, 1949, as the Awami Muslim League, the party later rebranded itself as the Awami League to reflect a secular ideology.
Over the decades, it has played a central role in shaping the nation’s political landscape, but now finds itself on the defensive, facing the possibility of being banned from the political arena.
Ironically, the Awami League is now facing the same fate it once imposed on its political rivals.
During its time in power, the AL government banned the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2009, accusing the party and its student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir, of violent activities and labeling them as a “platform of militants.”
The ruling government justified the ban by citing Jamaat’s involvement in violent protests and attacks on government properties.
Now, the same accusations of undemocratic behavior and mass violence have been leveled against the Awami League, raising questions about the legitimacy of its rule.
The petitioner has also named key government officials, including the cabinet secretary, the chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission, and the governor of Bangladesh Bank, among others, as respondents to the petition.
These officials are accused of being complicit in the alleged abuses of power during the Awami League’s tenure.
As of now, the Awami League has not issued an official response to the petition.
Political observers are watching closely, as the legal proceedings could lead to unprecedented changes in the country’s political dynamics.
The future of the Awami League, once a symbol of Bangladesh’s independence and progress, now hangs in the balance as the nation awaits the High Court’s decision.