AL should be eradicated, not just banned

Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, Adviser to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives, and Youth and Sports, has said that the Awami League should not only be banned but also politically eradicated from Bangladesh.

In a post on his verified Facebook account on Wednesday, February 19, Asif Mahmud wrote, "This is my personal position. There may be discussions on how to proceed with this. There are precedents in various countries around the world. I have witnessed my brothers martyred by their (Awami League) bullets. I have been a victim of enforced disappearances and have seen death up close. The thought of rehabilitating the Awami League politically is impossible."

He clarified, "I did not elaborate in detail, so my statement may not have been conveyed clearly. Some media outlets have presented my comments differently. At no point did I suggest that the Awami League should be allowed to participate in elections. That question is irrelevant before a trial."

Asif Mahmud continued, "However, we must find a permanent solution to this issue. If we don't, the Awami League will eventually find a way to return to power. The Awami League banned Jamaat-e-Islami, but did that stop Jamaat’s politics? Without a comprehensive approach, the question remains whether it will be possible."

Despite the Awami League not being directly involved in politics for the past 16 years, Bhuiyan noted that the party still has a large number of beneficiaries.

He concluded, "Many people ask why the party should apologize if it believes it has done no wrong. Of course, it must apologize—for its involvement in any form, whether as a fascist enabler or a beneficiary. This process must be completed transparently, openly, and in stages. Through a ban, the Awami League must be ideologically and politically eradicated from Bangladesh, following legal and social processes such as Truth Commissions or precedents from other countries."