NCP against any discussion, proposal on letting AL participate in polls before 'genocide' trial: Nahid

Highlights:

• NCP wants to see visible progress in AL trial for 'genocide'
• It strongly condemns efforts to rehabilitate AL
• It calls for ban on AL

The National Citizen Party (NCP) firmly rejects any discussion or proposal on allowing the Awami League to participate in the elections while their trial for "genocide" is pending, NCP Convener Nahid Islam said today (21 March).

Speaking at an emergency press conference at the NCP office in Dhaka, Nahid also called for visible progress in trial against the AL for the "genocide" committed during the July uprising.

"Even though seven months have passed, there has been no progress in the trial. The National Citizen Party wants to see visible progress in the trial. As a party, the Awami League has committed genocide by organisational decision. Their trial process must be visible," he said.

Regarding the timing of the election, Nahid said, "We support the December-June time frame set by the chief advisor. It is possible to carry out reforms within this period. Let the election be held after passing that stage."

Nahid condemned the statement of the chief advisor regarding Awami League. Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus yesterday told the International Crisis Group that the interim government has no plan to ban the AL. 

"The political activities of the Awami League and all individuals and organisations affiliated with fascism must be banned during the Awami League's trial for genocide and crimes against humanity," the NCP chief said.

Meanwhile, NCP Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain said protest programmes, led by the NCP, will continue across the country demanding trial of the AL and cancellation of its registration.

"We can hear about efforts to rehabilitate the Awami League at various levels of the state. Foreign powers are also trying to generate support in this regard. We strongly condemn domestic and foreign efforts to rehabilitate the Awami League," he said.

NCP, student leaders rally at public unis after Hasnat’s midnight Facebook post, demanding AL ban

Earlier in the day, protests, led by leaders of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and various student organisations, erupted across the country demanding the ban of Awami League.

In a Facebook post last night, NCP leader Hasnat Abdullah alleged that a plan is being hatched by India "to bring back Refined Awami League".

He claimed that he and two others were presented with a plan to rehabilitate the ousted Awami League party during a meeting at the Cantonment on 11 March.

Amid the developments, students from several universities brought out protests last night demanding a ban on the AL.