A group of Dhaka University (DU) students, who staged a procession in the wee hours of Friday (21 March) demanding the banning of the Awami League as a political party, have announced a fresh demonstration in the afternoon.
Musaddik Ali Ibne Mohammad, a student of the university’s Bangla Department, declared the next phase of their movement, reiterating their demand for the party’s prohibition and justice for the deaths and injuries sustained during last year’s uprising.
Calling upon fellow students to join the protest at the Raju Memorial Sculpture on DU campus, he also urged students at other universities to organise demonstrations in solidarity.
Around 2am, students from various residential halls gathered at the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC), chanting slogans against the Awami League. The demonstration lasted for several hours before they dispersed.
Speaking from the protest, Musaddik Ali claimed, “The Awami League has committed genocide, and over 30,000 people have been injured in the movement. This party has lost the moral right to exist in Bangladesh’s political sphere. It must be banned immediately.”
The student demonstration coincided with a statement from Hasnat Abdullah, chief organiser (South) of the National Citizen Party (NCP), who alleged that efforts were underway to reinstate the ousted Awami League.
In a Facebook post on Friday night, he wrote, “Let us unite against the Awami League… If the Awami League returns to politics, the July uprising will have been in vain. We will not allow the sacrifices of our martyrs to be forgotten. After 5 August, there must be no path for the Awami League’s return to Bangladesh’s politics.”
He warned that any attempt to revive the party would be met with fierce resistance.
On Thursday (20 March), Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus in a meeting with a delegation from the International Crisis Group (ICG) led by Dr Comfort Ero, clarified that the interim government has no plans to impose a blanket ban on the Awami League.
However, he assured the delegation that AL leaders accused of crimes—including murder and crimes against humanity—will be prosecuted under Bangladesh’s judicial system.
“The issue of referring Awami League leaders to the International Criminal Court (ICC) remains very much on the table,” the Chief Adviser reportedly told the ICG representatives.
As tensions continue to mount, today’s student demonstration at Dhaka University is expected to add further momentum to the ongoing calls for accountability and political restructuring in Bangladesh.
