National Citizen Party's Chief Organiser (South), Hasnat Abdullah, has urged the Bangladesh Army not to interfere in politics.
Hasnat made the comment while speaking at a rally in the capital’s Shahbagh this afternoon, demanding the trial of the Awami League (AL) and the cancellation of AL’s registration as a political party.
“We have full trust and confidence in the Army. We don’t want to spread any hatred against any institution. Therefore, we want to ask the heads of these institutions to focus on their own responsibilities. Leave politics to the politicians. You should stay in the cantonment. The way you have interfered in the political field over the past 16 years will no longer happen. In the post-2024 period, political decisions will be taken by political parties,” Hasnat said.
He stated, “Some are trying to make the people stand against the Army. Our position is not against the Army. Our position is against those who aim to destabilize the country by pitting the Army against us.”
Appealing to the interim government, Hasnat said, “We have not yet seen the visible steps we were expecting from you. We do not want the Awami League to be banned through an executive order, but if the crimes committed by the Awami League—such as suppressing freedom of speech, carrying out murders, and disappearances—are truly tried, the Awami League will not return to the land of Bengal even in the next 300 years.”
He emphasised that the Awami League must be banned through a judicial process.
Hasnat also stated that as long as even a single NCP member remains alive, the AL would not be allowed to be rehabilitated on Bangladeshi soil. “The AL didn’t flee the country through votes. It was forced to flee through mass protests. Nowhere in the history of the world has anyone who fled through mass protests been brought back for election,” he added.
Referring to India’s influence, Hasnat remarked, “The reel of this country was in India, but the kite flew in Bangladesh. We cut the string on 5 August. The dominance of India will not be allowed to continue in Bangladesh.”
