Responding to a question about recent demonstrations, the BNP leader said, “Why should we go to Shahbagh? We have given our demands in writing to the chief adviser long ago.”
BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed. Photo: Collected
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BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed. Photo: Collected
The BNP has welcomed the government’s decision to ban the political activities of the Awami League until its trial is completed, said the party’s Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed.
He made the remarks today (11 May) while responding to questions from journalists following a programme on constitutional reforms organised by Nagorik Jote at the International Mother Language Institute.
Responding to a question about recent demonstrations demanding a ban on the Awami League, he said, “Why should we go to Shahbagh? We have given our demands in writing to the chief adviser long ago.”
“BNP had informed the chief adviser in writing a few months ago that the Awami League should be brought to justice for crimes against humanity and genocide. If the chief adviser had considered the demand, then the embarrassing situation of the last few days would not have arisen,” the BNP leader said.
“We had expressed the aspirations of the July mass uprising and the words of the masses. There are precedents in different countries of the world that all fascist parties are banned after being brought to judicial process as parties responsible for genocide,” he said.
“There are examples of this all over the world. Therefore, I welcome the announcement that the interim government will ensure the trial of the Awami League through legal process, even if it is late,” he added.
Salahuddin also urged the government to provide an election roadmap without delay.
“If the election roadmap is not provided, the government may face an embarrassing situation in the future,” he added.
Notably, amid growing public pressure for a ban, the interim government, in an emergency Advisory Council meeting last night (10 May), decided to ban all activities of the Awami League under the Anti-Terrorism Act. An official order is expected to be issued tomorrow.
The decision came following a series of mass protests led by the National Citizen Party, which began in Dhaka last Thursday and continued until the government’s announcement on Saturday night.