AL won't be allowed to do politics under current name: Salahuddin

BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed has said the Awami League (AL) can no longer participate in politics under its existing name, as the people of Bangladesh have rejected the 'fascist' rule through the mass uprising in July, report agencies.

He came up with the remarks while speaking at a discussion on 'National Unity and Current Reality,' organised by Anchalik Sampadak Parishad at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital on Wednesday.

He also called for the trial of the AL for its involvement in mass killings and crimes against humanity.

"We want to make it clear that the people of Bangladesh have rejected the fascist politics of the Awami League through the uprising of students and the masses, driving them out of the country. We are now raising the demand that the Awami League can no longer do politics in Bangladesh in the name of Awami League," the BNP leader said.

He criticised the interim government for its failure to take necessary steps for the trial of the Awami League.

"We demand the trial of the Awami League as a political organisation for mass killings and crimes against humanity," Salahuddin said.

He also said it should be determined through the judicial process whether the AL should be allowed to engage in politics in Bangladesh, or not.

The BNP leader said the people of Bangladesh want the AL's fascist politics to be eliminated from the country. "You (govt) can take steps in this regard."

"On the one hand, you want to ban the Awami League, yet on the other hand, you won't prosecute them, and further, you use the police to obstruct their political programmes. These are contradictions, and it is not right," he observed.

Salahuddin said they support the government's action of not allowing the Awami League to take to the streets to carry out political activities.

Under Article 47 of the Constitution, he said, the government can prosecute the Awami League as a political organisation and initiate legal proceedings against it for mass killings and crimes against humanity.