While the interim government believes and stands by people's right to freedom to express and assemble, the ousted Awami League will not be allowed to hold any rallies until it faces justice, said Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam.
In a social media post on Wednesday (29 January), Shafiqul Alam emphasised, “We will not allow any attempt to push the country towards violence.”
His remarks came in response to the Awami League’s announcement of a series of protest programmes in February, including leaflet distribution, marches, blockades, and a full-day nationwide hartal.
The statement follows the dramatic fall of the Awami League government in the historic July uprising, which culminated in the ousting of Sheikh Hasina on 5 August.
The former prime minister fled to India, while many party leaders either went into hiding or sought refuge abroad.
Despite its diminished presence, the party announced its protest plans through its official Facebook page on Tuesday night.
Shafiqul Alam noted that since assuming office in August, the interim government has not imposed any blanket bans on protests.
He cited a media report stating that in the past five and a half months alone, Dhaka had witnessed at least 136 demonstrations, some of which severely disrupted traffic.
“Despite this, the government has never restricted assemblies or demonstrations,” he added.
Calls for Accountability Before Protest Rights
The press secretary posed a critical question: “Should the fascist Awami League be granted the right to protest?”
He referenced video evidence from the July uprising showing Awami League operatives engaging in violent crackdowns on peaceful demonstrators, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of young students and minors.
He further condemned the party’s role in state-led atrocities, including mass killings, forced disappearances, and extrajudicial executions.
Citing a report by Human Rights Watch, Shafiqul Alam stated that Sheikh Hasina had directly sanctioned killings and enforced disappearances throughout her 16-year tenure.
The report further alleged that her administration operated as a kleptocracy, with an independent panel revealing that her close associates had laundered $234 billion (Tk23,400 crore) through corrupt deals.
Investigations are now underway into allegations of massive financial embezzlement involving her family.
According to government figures, nearly 3,500 individuals were forcibly disappeared, while 3,000 others were executed extrajudicially under Hasina’s rule.
The press secretary also recalled state-sanctioned massacres at Shapla Chattar and in response to the protests following the verdict of Maulana Sayedee.
He further accused Hasina’s government of weaponising the police force, branding it “Police League”, and persecuting nearly six lakh opposition activists through fabricated cases.
No Reprieve Without Justice
Shafiqul Alam made it clear that the Awami League would not be permitted to stage protests unless it publicly acknowledges its past atrocities, surrenders its culpable leaders to the judiciary, and disavows its fascist ideology.
Drawing a historical parallel, he asked, “Did the Allied Forces ever allow the Nazis to protest?”
He concluded by asserting that no nation would permit a “murderous and corrupt syndicate” to reclaim power without accountability.
“The people of Bangladesh will respond firmly to any attempt by these criminals to stage demonstrations. The interim government stands as the voice of the people, and we will not allow any effort to incite violence.”
The Awami League, however, remains defiant. Its announced protest schedule includes leaflet distributions from 1 to 5 February, a protest rally on 6 February, mass demonstrations on 10 February, a nationwide blockade on 16 February, and a dawn-to-dusk hartal on 18 February.
The government’s stance leaves little room for ambiguity—unless the Awami League reckons with its past, its future on the streets remains uncertain.
