Awami League Hits the Streets as Its Back Is Against the Wall

Following the ban on its activities, the Awami League has intensified its political engagements across Bangladesh. After the ousting of Sheikh Hasina, the party initially organized small-scale processions in local alleys, but it has now taken to the main streets.

 

The Awami League, once the ruling party, is now holding processions not only in various districts but also on the streets of Dhaka. Party leaders claim that 20 to 25 processions took place in Dhaka and its surrounding areas in a single day. They allege that the current government is pursuing a policy of suppression against their workers and supporters, leaving them with no choice but to take to the streets.

 

On May 10, the interim government effectively banned the Awami League, and the Election Commission subsequently revoked the party’s registration, barring it from participating in upcoming elections. These twin blows have visibly escalated the party’s activities across the country. Processions are becoming frequent, and leaders abroad are also voicing their reactions.

 

Almost daily, Awami League supporters are organizing flash processions that draw significant crowds. A party leader noted, “What’s striking is that after the Yunus government came to power, our workers held processions in alleys. But since the ban, these have shifted to major streets, with both the number and scale of processions increasing.”

 

Recent examples include a large procession from Kalyanpur to Shyamoli in Mohammadpur, Dhaka, described as unprecedented in recent times. Consecutive processions have occurred in Uttara, while Dhaka Metropolitan Chhatra League’s northern unit leaders have also held marches. Processions have been reported in Badda, Rampura, Dhonia, Dhanmondi, Demra, and various locations outside Dhaka. On Sunday alone, Awami League leaders claim 20 to 25 processions were held.

 

A significant section of Awami League leaders believes the party faces an existential crisis. They accuse the current government of imposing an “undeclared martial law” and turning the country into a “prison.”

 

Bahauddin Nasim, Joint General Secretary of the Awami League, told Anandabazar over the phone, “The ban on our party has enraged our workers and supporters. With the ongoing suppression and persecution, they have no option but to protest and resist. That’s why they are desperately hitting the streets.”

 

Nasim further claimed that the struggle would intensify in the coming days, stating, “This occupying government has made life unbearable for people. The prices of essentials are skyrocketing daily. People, tormented by government-backed militant forces, are now standing by our side.”

 

According to Anandabazar, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is not giving much importance to the Awami League’s processions. Instead, they indirectly blame the interim government. Moazzem Hossain Alal, a former BNP MP and advisor to the party’s chairperson, remarked, “If the Awami League had been banned through a legal process rather than under pressure from one party, it would have been appropriate. Such processions aimed at creating unrest could have been prevented.”

 

Source: Anandabazar