Hasnat welcomes AL ban, urges protesters to return home

Protesters have taken the interim government's decision to ban all activities of the Bangladesh Awami League (AL) positively, said Hasnat Abdullah, chief organiser (South) of the National Citizen Party.

He said earlier today that they would remain vigilant during the implementation of the government's decisions and urged all protesters, who were blocking the Shahbagh intersection, to return home until further announcement.

"We have been witnessing various delays regarding the trial of the Awami League. Safe exits were being provided to the Awami League men accused of genocide. The most recent example is that even the biggest beneficiary of fascism — the former president Md Abdul Hamid — was granted a safe exit. Meanwhile, the families of those martyred and injured in the July Uprising continue to live in insecurity," said Hasnat while briefing reporters around 3:30am in Shahbagh.

He further said banning the AL and incorporating the provision to the International Crimes Tribunal Act to enable its trial as a political party are indeed positive developments, but not enough.

Hasnat also alleged that the interim government had previously stalled on issuing the July Declaration.

"We have seen prolonged delays in bringing the Awami League perpetrators of genocide to justice. Whether it was the Pilkhana massacre, the Shapla Square massacre, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, or rapes -- where swift justice was expected for these heinous crimes -- the revolutionary fighters injured in the July Uprising are struggling to even register cases at police stations," he added.

He alleged that in different parts of the country, especially at the grassroots level and even in the capital, July fighters have come under attack from Awami League affiliates.

"For the past decade and a half, judicial appointments have been made based on nepotism and political loyalty, raising doubts about whether the victims will receive true justice," he said.

He further mentioned that the government had sought 30 working days to draft and issue the July Declaration.

"Previously too, they delayed under the pretext of drafting this declaration. There remains hesitation among political parties regarding the July Declaration. We will closely observe the situation over the next 30 days," he said.

Concluding his speech, Hasnat said, "Tomorrow [today] is a government holiday. We have been informed that the official gazette will be issued the day after tomorrow, on Monday. On Monday, we will celebrate with a victory procession once the gazette is published."

The government banned all activities of AL last night, following days of mounting protests led by student groups and political activists under the banner of Anti-Fascist National Unity.

Students, people injured in the July Uprising, leaders and activists of different political parties and organisations, including the National Citizen Party, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Jamaat-e-Islami, Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, Islami Chhatra Andolan Bangladesh, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, Inquilab Mancha, Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad, and Amar Bangladesh Party, participated in the demonstrations.