
NCP renews call for ban on AL
It's a 'fascist organisation' rather than a political party, says Nahid Islam
FE REPORT | Saturday, 3 May 2025

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has renewed its call for a complete ban on the Awami League (AL), warning that no national election will be accepted until the ousted ruling party is outlawed, its affiliates are dissolved, and comprehensive political reforms are carried out.
At a rally held on Friday at the south gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in the capital after Jummah prayers, NCP leaders accused the Awami League of warping Bangladesh's democracy over the past one decade and a half, and alleged that the interim government is dragging its feet on implementing the demands from last year's anti-government uprising.
Addressing a crowd of supporters, NCP Convener Nahid Islam denounced the AL as a "fascist organisation" rather than a legitimate political party.
"The Awami League was never a political party-it is a criminal enterprise responsible for genocide, extrajudicial killings, and systematic election rigging," he said.
"We demand complete prohibition of all its political activities and the trial of its leaders and affiliated groups," he stressed.
Nahid also criticised the Election Commission, claiming it was incapable of preventing AL's "killer leaders" from contesting in future elections.
He urged the interim administration to fulfill the demand of the "July Declaration," which he said must include a ban on AL and its fronts such as the Chhatra League and Jubo League.
"The Chhatra League has already been banned. The same must now be done to its all sister organisations," he said.
The NCP maintained that the people of Bangladesh had already expressed their will during the mass uprising of August 2024.
"The Awami League has no political future on this soil," said NCP Joint Convener Tasnuva Jabin.
"Any attempt to rehabilitate this murderous organisation will be resisted by the martyrs' families and the July fighters," she warned.
NCP Joint Chief Coordinator Abdul Hannan Masud issued a stark warning to the Chief Adviser of the interim government.
"Ask the families of those killed and injured in the July uprising - they will tell you the Awami League must be banned. This is the consensus of the people, not a bureaucratic or judicial issue," he said. Senior party leaders also demanded formation of a Constituent Assembly to draft a new constitution that would reflect the aspirations of a post-AL Bangladesh.
"Without a new constitution, the lives of our students and citizens will remain at risk," said Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary. "We will not leave the streets until these demands are met," he continued.
Dr Tasnim Jara, senior joint member secretary, echoing the same sentiment said: "Justice must be delivered not only to the AL but to its entire network of enablers-civil society figures, media allies, and judicial collaborators. Elections cannot be held without first dismantling this power structure." NCP organisers announced plans to expand their campaign across the country in the coming weeks. "We will go door-to-door and organise people's courts in every locality to raise the voices of the martyrs and the injured," said Faisal Mahmud Shanto, joint member secretary.
"If AL is allowed to get back to politics, it will be like committing another genocide," warned Ariful Islam Adib, senior joint convener. "The youths, workers, and farmers of this country are ready to rise again if the state tries to protect AL," he said.
"We are not here to make requests," said Hasnat Abdullah, chief organiser for the south. "We are here to declare: the Awami League must be banned."
His counterpart in the north, Sarjis Alam, said, "Our struggle will continue until the Awami League is removed permanently from the country's political landscape."
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