AL must admit mistakes to re-enter politics, says TIB's Iftekharuzzaman

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman today (10 February) said the Awami League cannot expect to return to meaningful political participation without first admitting its mistakes and expressing remorse, noting that the party has itself taken a clear stance against the ongoing election process.

Responding to a journalist's question at a briefing on the release of Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) report, he questioned the narrative of "inclusive elections" and said the Awami League had already chosen to remain outside the electoral process.

"The party (AL) has openly declared an anti-election position. If a party boycotts an election on its own, how can it then be included?"

At the grassroots level, he said Awami League leaders and activists are not contesting elections under the party banner but are instead joining or campaigning for other political groups.

"Yet some people still say the Awami League is actively participating in the election," he added. "On what logic is this being said?"

Iftekharuzzaman stressed that no one else can restore the Awami League's political legitimacy except the party itself.

"If the Awami League wants to re-establish itself politically, it must take responsibility for its actions," he said adding, "The current situation of the party is primarily the result of decisions taken by its own leadership."

He added that public acceptance is still possible if the party shows accountability.

"If they accept responsibility, express remorse, and say 'we were wrong', I think the people of this country will accept them," he said. 

"But whether they choose to do that or not is entirely up to them," he added. 

Iftekharuzzaman alleged that while the Awami League is officially boycotting the polls, it is still influencing the electoral environment indirectly.

"They are trying to obstruct the election through violence and instability," he said. 

"This is happening through their supporters, agents at home and abroad, and in some cases with encouragement from sheltering countries," he added. 

He further claimed that many Awami League voters have already cast their votes while in jail, raising questions about the party's real stance on electoral participation.

"Those voters have already voted. You protested against this yourselves," he told journalists.

He also challenged claims that Bangladesh is facing a lack of inclusive elections only now, asking why such concerns were not raised strongly over the past 16 years.

"When we talk about inclusive elections today, we must ask what we did in the last 16 years," he said asking, "How many institutions or individuals had the courage to say at that time that elections were not inclusive?"