Awami League offices reopened in at least 15 districts after election
Both BNP and Jamaat had reportedly sought to attract AL voters before election, emboldening its leaders and activists and giving them an opening to resurface
Highlights:
- AL offices reopened in various districts after national election
- The districts include Jamalpur, Habiganj, Pabna, Rajbari, Rajshahi, Jashore, Cox's Bazar
- National and party flags hoisted, portraits of Mujib, Hasina hung, 'Joy Bangla' chanted
- Post-election changed scenario sees AL's reappearance
The Awami League (AL) appears to be attempting a comeback amid a changed political landscape following the 13th national parliamentary election, with activists reopening party offices in several districts and upazilas that had remained shut for more than a year and a half.
Activists today (21 February) reopened the Jamalpur district AL office. Earlier on Friday, several leaders of Jubo Mohila League gathered in front of the gate of the party president's political office in Dhanmondi, Dhaka, placing the national flag and a portrait of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and chanting slogans. Around 10-12 activists were seen sitting in front of House 51 on Road 3/A from about 8:30am.
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Similar incidents of reopening party offices have recently taken place in Ukhiya of Cox's Bazar, as well as in Habiganj, Rajbari, Pabna, Rajshahi and Baghaichhari of Jashore. Party and national flags were hoisted at these offices, portraits of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Sheikh Hasina were displayed, and banners were hung.
After Sheikh Hasina left the country and took refuge in India on 5 August 2024 amid a mass uprising led by students and the public, the political and organisational activities of the AL effectively came to a halt, with many of its offices vandalised and locked.
Party leaders and activists had largely remained in hiding since then. However, ahead of the 13th parliamentary election, the party's vote bank drew attention as both the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami made various promises aimed at attracting AL supporters, bringing the party back into discussion.
The first reported reopening after the election took place on 13 February at the Chaklahat union AL office in Panchagarh Sadar. A video circulating on social media showed former BNP leader Abu Daud Pradhan, ex-chairman of Chaklahat Union Parishad, present during the unlocking.
In the video, Union AL Joint General Secretary Kamruzzaman Bullet said Pradhan's first act, as the BNP moved toward forming a government with a large majority, was to "free" the grassroots AL organisation by unlocking its office – an incident that sparked widespread debate online.
On 15 February, activists broke the lock and entered the Pirganj upazila AL office in Thakurgaon, chanting slogans and hoisting party and national flags while singing the national anthem.
On 16 February, Chhatra League activists forced open the Betagi upazila AL office in Barguna. Betagi Upazila Chhatra League (banned) General Secretary Sifat Sikder told the media that day that Sheikh Hasina had instructed activists to resume visiting local party offices, including Dhanmondi 32.
That same morning, the Dashmina upazila office in Patuakhali was reopened, where activists cleaned the premises and offered prayers in the names of Bangabandhu and Sheikh Hasina.
Later that afternoon, leaders and activists briefly entered the party office at Shankh Market in Khulna, placed garlands on portraits of Bangabandhu and Sheikh Hasina, chanted slogans, and then locked the office again before leaving.
On 18 February, 15–20 activists reopened the district AL office in Palong Bazar, Shariatpur, chanting "Joy Bangla." Their faces were covered with masks and helmets. The same morning, 30–35 Chhatra League activists broke into the Noakhali district office, chanted slogans, hung a banner, and quickly left.
On 20 February, several individuals put up banners and chanted slogans in front of the district and city AL office near Railgate no 2 in Narayanganj. Signboards identifying party offices have also been reinstalled in Chattogram city office and earlier in the party's Chattogram north district office.
The political arena has shown mixed reactions to what some describe as the "rehabilitation" of the AL. Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP), alleged at a press conference on Thursday that the reopening of banned AL offices in different areas took place with a "green signal" from the ruling BNP.
"Without the BNP's green signal, the AL would not have had the opportunity or courage to do this," said Nahid Islam.
Writer and political analyst Mohiuddin Ahmed told TBS that Awami League supporters had participated in the election, and that some local-level compromises and understandings had been reached, leading to the reopening of offices.
However, he believes these developments are unlikely to have any immediate impact on national politics.
