Staff Correspondent:

The BNP has expressed satisfaction over the interim government’s decision to ban all activities of the Awami League, according to a statement issued by Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, secretary general of the party, on Sunday.

He said: “On February 10, during our meeting with the chief adviser, we submitted a letter demanding that the Awami League be brought under judicial proceedings for its role in mass killings and crimes against humanity.”

He added: “In our most recent meeting with the chief adviser on April 16, we again submitted a letter demanding that swift trials be held to rid national politics of the fallen fascist party and the government it led. We had clearly stated during the discussions that it is both possible and necessary to legally ban the fascist Awami League party. We reiterated this demand on multiple occasions—in meetings, rallies, and discussions.

“It is worth noting that the BNP, being firmly against the banning of political parties through administrative orders, had protested the government’s decision to ban Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami in the final days of the previous fascist regime.”

“We are pleased that, albeit belatedly, the interim government on Saturday night decided to ban all activities of the fascist Awami League and its affiliated bodies,” the BNP secretary general said.

“This was done in the interest of expediting trials against individuals involved with the fascist regime for crimes against humanity, and to ensure an unobstructed judicial process.”

He added that the decision to amend the relevant laws and bring the oppressive fascist party to justice for enforced disappearances, killings, persecution, and misrule was the right one.

“Had this decision been taken earlier in line with our demands, the government would not have had to act under pressure in such an awkward and unwanted manner. We hope the interim government will keep this in mind while undertaking future actions.”

Fakhrul said: “For 16 years, a disenfranchised population has been fighting—despite disappearances, killings, imprisonment, and oppression—to bring down fascism and restore their right to vote and democracy. That demand has yet to be realised. As the repeated calls for a clear roadmap to restoring democracy continue to be ignored, public frustration is mounting. We urge the interim government to take note of this growing discontent.”