Abu Jakir :
The question of reintegrating the Awami League (AL) into Bangladesh’s political landscape has gained renewed attention following recent comments by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.
Speaking on Thursday, Yunus stated that while the interim government has no intention of banning the AL, individuals within its leadership accused of serious crimes will face trial in Bangladeshi courts. His remarks have ignited widespread debate across the country.
Social media and mainstream media outlets have been abuzz with discussions regarding the potential return of the AL to political prominence.
Protests have erupted nationwide, including in Dhaka University, where hundreds of students took to the streets, and in Shahbagh, where demonstrators staged a sit-in, disrupting traffic.
These protests highlight deep divisions over the future of the Awami League and its role in Bangladesh’s political landscape.
Hasnat Abdullah, the organiser of the National Citizen Party (NCP) in the southern region, has strongly criticised the government, alleging an attempt to rehabilitate the ousted Awami League.
He identified figures such as former Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury, former Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, and former Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh as key players in what he termed a “new conspiracy” under the guise of a “Refined Awami League.”
In a series of social media posts, Abdullah warned of an alleged scheme to bring back the AL through the current election cycle.
He argued that the party’s chapter should remain closed, referencing its contentious history, including its alleged involvement in the August 5th banning order. On 20 March, Abdullah directly addressed Yunus, questioning the legitimacy of reconsidering the AL’s political standing.
As the debate continues, voices within the interim government have added their perspectives. Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan, an adviser to the Ministry of Youth & Sports and the Ministry of Labour & Employment, cautioned that reinstating the AL could be dangerous, citing the party’s historical role in past conflicts.
“It is reckless to consider bringing back the Awami League just a year after the tragic events,” Bhuiyan remarked in a Facebook post on Friday.
The National Citizen Party has made its opposition clear. Sarjis Alam, NCP Chief Organiser (North), announced a “second chapter” in their campaign against the AL’s rehabilitation, vowing to persist until the party is formally banned.
Alam’s declaration has been met with intensified student-led protests across Bangladesh, with university groups and NCP leaders calling for the immediate dissolution of the AL and justice for its alleged actions.
The protests have been accompanied by growing political tensions. In Dhaka, the Inqilab Manch, a cultural organisation, and the Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad, a newly formed student body, have organised marches and demonstrations.
Protesters have demanded accountability for those lost in previous uprisings and called for the government to retract Yunus’ comments regarding the AL’s political future.
During one protest, Sharif Osman bin Hadi, a spokesperson for Inqilab Manch, gave a fervent speech against the AL and its leadership.
“If elections proceed with the Awami League, the consequences will be dire,” Hadi declared, alluding to past political violence and loss of life.
Meanwhile, opposition figures such as Tarique Rahman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have warned against the AL’s return, calling it a hazardous move. Rahman argued that reinstating fugitive AL leaders would undermine national unity and democracy.
He also raised concerns over allegations of financial mismanagement by former AL officials, warning that local elections preceding national polls could allow these individuals to regain political influence.
While NCP and student groups rally against the AL’s rehabilitation, BNP leaders, including acting chairman Tarique Rahman and senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, have framed the debate around justice and electoral reforms.
Rizvi questioned whether the AL could re-enter politics under new, untainted leadership but maintained that those responsible for past crimes must be held accountable.
With tensions escalating, the stakes for Bangladesh’s political future remain high. GM Kader, Chairman of the Jatiya Party, has warned that allowing the AL to return to power could lead to further instability.
Speaking from his residence in Rangpur on Friday, Kader cautioned that excluding large sections of the population from the electoral process risks pushing the country towards greater turmoil.
As protests continue and political rhetoric intensifies, the fate of the Awami League remains uncertain. The interim government’s forthcoming decisions will be pivotal in determining whether Bangladesh moves towards reconciliation and stability or faces deeper divisions in the lead-up to the upcoming elections.
