Student movement rejects Badiul statement on AL joining election

The Anti-discrimination Student Movement has rejected the statement by Election Reform Commission chief Badiul Alam Majumdar that "there is no obstacle for the Awami League to participate in the general election", reports bdnews24.com.

It said allowing the deposed Awami League to contest in elections or take part in any political activities would dishonour the sacrifices of those who died during the July uprising.

This statement was made public in a press release issued on Thursday evening by Umama Fatema, the movement's spokesperson.

The statement read, "The Awami League is a group responsible for numerous massacres in Bangladesh. Over the past 16 years, they have been involved in enforced disappearances, murders, extrajudicial killings, and various human rights violations." "In the most recent July massacre, the notorious Awami League claimed the lives of nearly 2,000 martyrs and caused the dismemberment of over 30,000 people. The Awami League has unlawfully manipulated the last three elections for its own interests. Allowing this party, which has tarnished the electoral system of Bangladesh, to participate in elections would go against the will of the people."

The statement asserted that the Anti-discrimination Student Movement opposes the participation of the Awami League in any political activities, including elections. It believes that such participation would devalue the bloodshed of the martyrs of the July uprising.

It called on Badiul Alam to retract his statement and take appropriate measures to prevent the Awami League from participating in the elections.