‘AL can’t join in next polls’
Staff Reporter :
Despite speculation about the Awami League’s participation in the upcoming general elections, the party cannot participate in the elections to be held at the end of this year or mid the next year, according to Shafiqul Alam, the Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser of the interim government. Alam shared this statement on his personal Facebook profile on Wednesday.
In his post, Shafiqul Alam stated, “Supporters of the Awami League, a party complicit in genocide, are under the illusion that they can rejoin the political process once the country transitions to elections.
However, this will remain impossible unless the party acknowledges its crimes against humanity and eliminates individuals involved in murder and disappearances. Moreover, those connected to killings and human rights violations between 2009 and 2024 — including Awami League members and their associates — will also face justice.”
Alam also highlighted his recent engagements with various foreign diplomats and officials, noting that “few have advocated for reconciliation.” He added, “They, too, understand the challenges of calling for reconciliation without accountability for crimes.
Instead, they have shown stronger support for reforms and fixing the country’s institutions.” In his post, Alam accused Awami League supporters of attempting to erase historical memories of atrocities. “Year after year, Awami League loyalists have tried to bury the memories of the 1974 famine, killings by the paramilitary Rakkhi Bahini, and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s one-party rule,” he wrote.
Alam further commented on the evolving political consciousness of the younger generation. “This generation has awakened and is fully aware of every human rights violation committed under authoritarian rule. Their efforts are reviving and preserving historical truths on a daily basis,” he stated.
The Facebook post, coming from a key government official, underscores the tension and challenges surrounding the upcoming elections and the broader political future of the Awami League in Bangladesh.