No election without justice for AL-era atrocities: NCP
Staff Reporter :
The National Citizen Party (NCP) has called on the interim government to impose an immediate ban on the Awami League (AL), stating that no national election would be deemed legitimate without a full legal trial of AL and its leadership for crimes committed during its time in power.
The demand was raised at a protest rally held near the south gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque following Jummah prayers, where hundreds of NCP supporters gathered under tight police surveillance.
Abdul Hannan Masud, NCP Joint Chief Coordinator, delivered a strong message to the interim authorities. “We urge the Chief Adviser to listen to the families of martyrs and the injured.
They will say – the Awami League must be banned. This will be achieved through united action. No election will be accepted until justice is served,” he said.
Masud further accused former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of compromising Bangladesh’s sovereignty and overseeing a repressive regime. “The Awami League is no longer a political organisation – it has become a terrorist entity. It has lost the people’s mandate and must be outlawed,” he stated.
The Awami League, which governed Bangladesh for over a decade, was toppled during a mass uprising on 5 August 2024. The movement, spearheaded by students and supported by the general public, led to the party’s removal after sustained allegations of corruption, authoritarianism, and human rights violations.
NCP Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain extended the criticism, accusing AL of systemic violence. “The Awami League has repeatedly committed atrocities against the people.
They must be permanently excluded from the political process,” he said. He also called for accountability across sectors that supported the previous government, including affiliated media, civil society groups, and elements within the judiciary.
Dr Tasnim Jara, Senior Joint Member Secretary, highlighted the plight of those injured during last year’s protests. “Many victims are still recovering in hospitals with no sign of justice. Meanwhile, the Awami League dares to dream of returning to power,” she said.
NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary called for the drafting of a new constitution through a Constituent Assembly. “The fascist framework left behind by the previous regime still stands. Unless it is completely dismantled, the public remains at risk,” he warned.
Other senior party figures reinforced the call. “This is not a plea – it is a declaration. The Awami League must be banned,” said Hasnat Abdullah, Chief Organiser (South).
Ariful Islam Adib, Senior Joint Convener, cautioned that allowing the AL to return could lead to further violence. “They will commit another massacre if given the chance,” he alleged.
Faisal Mahmud Shanto, Joint Member Secretary, urged the authorities to deliver justice. “We represent the voices of the fallen. Until every act of violence is accounted for, the AL’s fate must remain sealed,” he said.
The rally came a day after a video statement by NCP Convener Nahid Islam was released. In the message, he reflected on the events of 5 August, describing the uprising as a historic rejection of authoritarianism that “uprooted the Awami League from the soil of Bangladesh.”
Despite the AL’s ousting, Nahid noted, no significant legal measures have yet been taken. “The party must face trial as an organisation. Its political wings – particularly Chhatra League and Jubo League – must be dismantled,” he asserted.
He acknowledged that Chhatra League has already been banned but called for further action. “The Awami League’s political registration must be cancelled, and all organisational activities permanently suspended,” Nahid concluded.