Awami League calls for hartal in Feb, mass movement ‘to restore democracy under Hasina’s leadership’
According to the media release and a Facebook post from AL’s verified profile yesterday (28 January), the party will begin distributing leaflets on 1-5 February, followed by protest rallies on 6 and 10 February
The former ruling party Awami League has announced a series of protest programmes in February, including a nationwide dawn-to-dusk hartal on 18 February.
"At the call of the greatest Bengali of all time, daughter of the father of the nation, the honorable prime minister, and the president of the Bangladesh Awami League, our leader Sheikh Hasina, let us launch an unrelenting mass movement to restore democracy and rebuild the aspirations of the Liberation War," the party said in a press release yesterday (28 January).
The press release, however, was not signed as is the usual practice.
The Awami League government was ousted on 5 August 2024 after a students-people mass uprising in July. Following this, the party's president and deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled to neighbouring India.
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On 12 November, the ICT chief prosecutor's office sent a letter to Interpol, urging it to issue a "red notice" against Hasina to facilitate her arrest and repatriation for orchestrating the killings, genocides and crimes against humanity committed during the student-led mass-uprising in July and August.
The International Crimes Tribunal has started trials of the former prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, for crimes against humanity. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has formally requested India for her extradition under the treaty.
According to the media release and a Facebook post from AL's verified profile yesterday (28 January), the party will begin distributing leaflets on 1-5 February, followed by protest rallies on 6 and 10 February.
The AL stated the party's demand for the resignation of the "illegal and unconstitutional fascist" interim government, led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
A blockade programme has also been scheduled for 16 February, with the hartal set for 18 February.
The party also warned that if authorities attempt to obstruct these demonstrations, tougher programmes will be announced.
The AL called for an end to arbitrary arrests, filing of politically motivated cases, and financial scandals.
