High Court dismisses writ seeking ban on Awami League

The High Court (HC) has dismissed a writ petition that sought to ban the Awami League as a political party and cancel its registration for the indiscriminate killing of students and the public during the protests led by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.

The High Court bench of Justices AKM Asaduzzaman and Md Mahbubul Islam issued the order today (1 September). Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman confirmed the matter to journalists.

Before issuing the order on the writ petition, the High Court assured the petitioner that justice will be served for all offences.

"The interim government is sincere about prosecuting those who ordered and carried out the shootings. It is individuals who ordered the shooting, and individuals committed the crimes, not the party," Senior Justice AKM Asaduzzaman of the bench said, addressing the petitioner.

When the petitioner requested an order to repatriate smuggled money, the High Court mentioned that the chief advisor of the interim government had already discussed the matter of repatriating funds with the Swiss Bank authorities and other relevant parties. 

"The government is very sincere about this issue. Justice will be served for all crimes," the court said. 

The attorney general represented the state in the court, while Arifur Rahman Murad Bhuiyan, executive director of the human rights organisation Sarda, argued on behalf of the writ petitioner.

Arifur filed the writ petition with the High Court on 19 August. The writ also sought the High Court's directive to rename institutions bearing Sheikh Hasina's name.

The petition sought a minimum three-year term for the interim government to implement necessary reforms.

Furthermore, it called for the repatriation of Tk11 lakh crore allegedly smuggled out of the country and the removal of officials hired on contract during the Awami League administration.