AL must face trial, seek apology before returning to politics: Ali Riaz

Awami League (AL) must face the ongoing judicial process over the killings in the July uprising and seek apology if it wants to return to active politics, said Prof Ali Riaz, special assistant to the Chief Adviser, repoprt agencies.

Speaking at a seminar titled 'Rapture, Reform and Reimagining Democracy: Navigating the Agony of Transition' organised by the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) at BRAC Centre in the capital's Mohakhali on Thursday, Ali Riaz said the party, however, has neither acknowledged the July uprising nor expressed any regret over the incidents.

"Sheikh Hasina still believes the July uprising was an Islamic militant movement backed by the West and meticulously designed by Prof Muhammad Yunus. With this mindset, there is no scope for making Awami League relevant in politics," he said.

Rejecting commonly cited estimates of Awami League's support base as flawed and baseless, Prof. Ali Riaz said claims that the party enjoys 40 per cent or even 20 per cent public support lack credible justification.