'Road closed until AL is banned': NCP-led Shahbagh blockade grows bigger, Sarjis urges BNP to join
Apart from NCP, supporters of Hefazat-e-Islam, Jamat-e-Islami, Islami Chhatra Shibir, Jatiya Ganotantrik Party, UP Bangladesh, July Oikya, Students Against Discrimination, July Mancha, Inqilab Mancha and other political organisations have joined the protest
Key Highlights
- NCP's Hasnat Abdullah said they won't withdraw blockade unless AL is banned
- Supporters of Jamaat, SAD, Hefazat, NCP and other orgs joined the blockade
- People coming from other districts to join the protest
- NCP's Sarjis Alam called for BNP to join
- BNP says AL ban decision not for them to make
- Govt says it seriously considering banning AL
- Multiple advisers expressed solidarity with AL ban demand
- Hefazat asks activists to stay on street until demand is met
A huge number of protesters, led by the National Citizen Party (NCP), have blocked the Shahbagh intersection in the capital in demand of a ban on the Awami League at 4:45pm today (9 May).
Apart from NCP, supporters of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Oikya Jote, Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, Jatiya Ganotantrik Party, UP Bangladesh, July Oikya, Students Against Discrimination (SAD), July Mancha, Inqilab Mancha and other political organisations have also joined the protest.
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The blockade began shortly after Hasnat Abdullah, chief organiser (South) of NCP, announced that they would block the Shahbagh intersection to press home their demand at a mass rally, which kicked off at 2:30pm after Jumma prayer, with the same demand in front of the chief adviser's official residence Jamuna.
Speaking at the rally, Hasnat said, "We have arranged this gathering to bring everyone together. From here, we will now blockade Shahbagh. The intersection will remain closed till our demand is met."
Regarding the ban on Awami League, he said, "Awami League has blood on its hands at every stage of history. In 2006, they killed and murdered with boathooks and oars. With the help of the Indians, our patriotic BDRs were killed in Pilkhana. They committed genocide in Shapla [Chattar]. Awami League has been given many favours, no more.
"I don't want to stay in Bangladesh with the virus called Awami League."
The NCP leader, who was also one of the key leaders of SAD, which spearheaded the July-August uprising against the AL-led government, alleged, "We have seen that Hasina was a salaried employee of Modi. From now on, Bangladesh's politics will be determined from this land. Foreign prescriptions will no longer work in this country."
He also said the blockade will continue till their demand is met.
Blockade grows as people join from other districts
Leaders and activists of various parties are joining protesters at Shahbagh from different areas in and around Dhaka to Shahbagh. As a result, the number of protesters in Shahbagh is increasing, our correspondent reported from the spot at around 6:20pm.
Md Shamim, secretary of Jamaat's Mouchak Union unit in Kaliakair of Gazipur, said, "I have come from Gazipur to join today's Awami League ban movement. We want Awami League politics to be completely stopped in this country. They have no place in this country. They have killed innocent people. They have not allowed innocent people to live in peace at home. They have no right to do politics in this country. They must be banned. We will not leave the streets until they are done."
Sujan Mia from Tangail said, "We are July fighters. After a long, bloody struggle, we got freedom. They killed over 2,000 of our brothers. Countless people were injured, and many of them are still in the hospital. It has been nine months, and this murderous group has not been banned yet. This is unacceptable."
"I don't understand why Yunus sir is wasting time on this. We want to tell Yunus sir that if the Awami League government had not fallen, Yunus sir would have been in jail today. Hasina would have sent him to jail anyway. He should also express solidarity with us and quickly ban this murderous group from Bangladesh. In any case, since we have come down on the streets, we will not leave before this party is banned."
The demand for a ban on AL has gained momentum in recent days, with NCP leaders, government advisers, political parties and organisations, and student organisations holding protests to pressure the government to issue a clear roadmap on the process.
At around 7:00pm, a huge group of Islami Oikya Jote members joined the protest.
Sarjis urges BNP to join protest
Almost all major political parties and organisations, except the BNP, expressed solidarity with the demand to ban AL.
Amid the situation, the NCP's Chief Organiser (North) Sarjis Alam has called on the nationalist party to join the movement.
"All political parties except BNP and its affiliates are now in Shahbagh. If BNP joins, it will re-establish the unity of July. A united Shahbagh awaits BNP. Today's Shahbagh is part of history and the benchmark for future politics," he wrote in a Facebook post in the evening.
Govt says considering AL ban
Amid the growing pressure, the government, in a statement today, said it is seriously considering the growing demands from various political parties, civil society groups, and the public to impose a ban on the Awami League over allegations of authoritarian rule and involvement in violent activities.
In an official statement published on the verified Facebook page of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, the government said it has already initiated communication with political parties to discuss the matter and will make a decision soon after consultations.
The statement also noted that the government is taking into account a United Nations report detailing acts of political violence and terrorism allegedly committed by Awami League leaders and supporters.
Urging the public to remain patient during this sensitive process, the government emphasised its commitment to addressing public concerns. As part of its response to citizen demands, the government has already banned the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) — the student wing of the Awami League—under existing anti-terrorism laws, reads the statement.
Advisers express solidarity
As the movement for AL's ban grows, various advisers of the government have expressed support for the demand.
Law, Justice, Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Asif Nazrul, in a Facebook post this afternoon, said AL as a political party can be banned if political parties want it or the judicial court gives any review or verdict on the matter.
Stating that the law is not a problem, he further said AL can be banned anytime under the Anti-Terrorism Act and other laws and they can also amend the ICT law within a few days.
With the matter of ban on AL in mind, he said, the draft ICT law proposed by the law ministry had the provision of banning such organisations. "As the law adviser, I myself had presented the draft law during a meeting of the Advisory Council. How is it possible that I will oppose the draft I have proposed?"
"Please refrain from blaming me or other advisers for the roles that were played by the advisers in the advisory council meeting. Whatever happens during the meeting falls on all the advisers.
"There is no disagreement between us, the advisers, over banning AL. But there can be disagreements over the process of this ban," Asif added.
Today's protest programme follows a sit-in, also led by NCP, in front of the CA's official residence Jamuna last night, demanding a clear roadmap on AL ban.
Shortly after the protest started at around 10:00pm yesterday, Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud, in a Facebook post, said AL's affiliate organisations — Jubo League and Swechchhasebak League —are set to banned,
NCP leaders, including its Convener Nahid Islam NCP leaders, including its Convener Nahid Islam, swiftly responded to the announcement, saying they will not accept anything less than the ban on AL.
Soon after, the youth adviser made another post clarifying that the decision to ban Jubo League and Swechchhasebak League was made days ago and that it was not an attempt to subdue the movement demanding the ban on AL.
Expressing solidarity with the demand for banning AL, he also wrote, "Personally, I think that the Awami League, as a political party that committed genocide, has no right to do politics in Bangladesh. July's pledge is to ensure the trial of the genocide perpetrators and to politically ban and eliminate the Awami League."
Hefazat instruct activists to stay on the streets until AL is banned
In a statement issued today (9 May), Hefazat's Ameer Allama Muhibbullah Babunagari and Secretary General Allama Sajedur Rahman called on the organisation's leaders, activists, and students to remain on the streets until the Awami League is officially banned and held accountable for the mass killings during last year's July Uprising and the reported killings of the 2013 rally at Shapla Chattar.
They condemned what they termed the "impunity" given to perpetrators of mass killings.
They accused the AL of being a "terrorist organisation" responsible for unlawful violence and alleged atrocities.
The Hefazat leaders urged their followers to remain on the streets until the party is officially banned and those responsible for past violence are brought to justice.
BNP says decision to ban AL lies with EC and govt
BNP Standing Committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan today said it is not the party's role to determine whether the Awami League should be banned, noting that such a decision lies with the Election Commission and the government.
Speaking to journalists at the BNP Chairperson's Gulshan office, the BNP leader said, "Some political parties are calling for a ban on the AL. But as BNP, we are not in a position to make that decision.
"Our secretary general has already said this is a matter for the people to decide — whether they want to allow such a party to participate in elections," he added.
Criticising Awami League, Moyeen said, "In the past nine months, not a single AL leader has admitted their authoritarian governance over the past 15 years or apologised to the people. Has anyone from their ranks said they want a people's mandate through a fair election? The answer is no."
