NCP demands ban on AL, immediate justice for july genocide

Bangladesh desk:  Condemning the lack of progress in prosecuting Awami League (AL) for crimes committed during the student-citizen uprising, National Citizens’ Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam demanded ban on the party’s political legitimacy and immediate justice for July genocide.

Speaking on behalf of the party at an emergency press conference on Friday, Nahid Islam expressed deep frustration, citing the absence of visible judicial action against Sheikh Hasina and other accused individuals and emphasized the need to hold the Awami League accountable for its alleged atrocities.

“We are observing with great concern and anger that, even after seven months since the student-citizen uprising, there has been no visible progress in prosecuting the mass murderers, including Sheikh Hasina and the killers of AL,” Nahid Islam stated.

NCP demanded immediate legal action against the perpetrators of the July genocide and past incidents of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.

NCP also reacted strongly to a recent statement from Chief Adviser of the interim government, who declared that there were no plans to ban AL. Rejecting this stance, the party argued that before meaningful legal steps are taken regarding crimes such as the Pilkhana massacre, Shapla massacre, election fraud, and the July killings, any suggestion of political reinstatement for AL is unacceptable.

Emphasising the necessity of accountability, NCP insisted that justice must be seen to be served. “Since our inception, we have unequivocally stated that no efforts should be made to allow AL to remain active as a political party without accountability for its crimes, admission of guilt, repentance, and atonement. Any attempt to do so would amount to rehabilitating fascists,” the statement read.

The party further demanded that AL’s political registration be revoked during the trial period, preventing its return to political activities.

Highlighting the July uprising as a turning point, the NCP argued that the people of Bangladesh had already made their decision. “AL was not defeated in elections through votes; rather, it systematically orchestrated genocide in Bangladesh. As a result, an unprecedented student-popular uprising led to the overthrow of the AL’s fascist regime,” the party asserted. With this context, it rejected any future electoral participation by AL, calling for a total ban on its political activities.

NCP urged all anti-fascist political groups to unite under a proposed July Charter, which would form the basis for collective political consensus regarding the AL’s status. “We firmly reject any discussions or proposals that allow AL to participate in elections before the completion of its trial,” the statement declared. According to the party, AL has lost all political rights in Bangladesh due to its involvement in crimes against humanity.

Addressing the broader issue of historical injustices, Nahid Islam reaffirmed the NCP’s commitment to seeking justice beyond the recent uprising. “We have failed to complete the trials for the genocide of 1971. We have also failed to resolve the political questions surrounding those events. To prevent history from repeating itself, we remain firm in our stance regarding the AL’s prosecution. We demand justice for all the genocides committed from 1971 to 2024,” he declared.

NCP Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain also spoke on concerns regarding AL’s potential rehabilitation. “We have heard discussions about the rehabilitation of AL at various levels of the state. Foreign powers are also exerting influence to gain approval for such efforts. Instead of ensuring that Sheikh Hasina, accused of genocide, is handed over to the Bangladeshi judiciary, the AL is being given a platform to broadcast videos from its official Facebook page,” he said. NCP, he insisted, would take a firm stance in ensuring the prosecution of “Awami fascists.”

NCP also called upon its supporters, particularly students, to remain active in protest movements.

“Protests demanding the prosecution of AL and the cancellation of its registration will continue across the country under the leadership of the NCP,” Akhtar Hossain announced.

He portrayed the party as a guardian against authoritarian forces, stating, “The biggest obstacle to the vision of a new Bangladesh, as envisioned by the people, is AL. They have pushed Bangladesh towards fascist rule. To ensure that no fascist force is ever rehabilitated in Bangladesh again, all NCP leaders, supporters, and well-wishers are ready to take to the streets.”

Dismissing concerns regarding a Facebook post he made about the military, NCP’s Chief Organiser for the southern region stated that political matters should remain in the hands of politicians. “We have had meetings with various members of the military in different places. However, the context of the March 11 incident was different, as a senior official from the other side (Army Chief General Wakar-uz-Zaman) was present,” he explained.

He further disclosed that the military’s newly granted magisterial powers had raised concerns about law and order, which led to discussions in the cantonment regarding governance and election policies. “I have made my position clear and straightforward in my post,” he concluded.

With nationwide protests continuing and demands for judicial action growing louder, the NCP remains firm in its stance that the AL should be permanently removed from Bangladesh’s political landscape. As the country moves forward, the debate over accountability and the future of the AL remains a focal point in national politics.