‘Moves underway to rehabilitate AL via JaPa’

Staff Reporter :

Local Government Adviser Asif Mahmud SajibBhuiyan on Sunday alleged that efforts are being made to bring back the Awami League into Bangladesh’s political equation through the Jatiya Party, branding it a “fascist force.”

Speaking to reporters after visiting GonoOdhikarParishad President NurulHaqueNur, who is undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital’s emergency unit following a brutal attack, Bhuiyan said the strategy comes after the failure of attempts to “refine” the Awami League.

“Since the so-called ‘refined’ Awami League project has failed, now there is an attempt to bring them back through the Jatiya Party. But the Jatiya Party is a known fascist entity,” he said.
He accused the Jatiya Party of repeatedly legitimizing past parliaments under the Awami League, describing them as “fascist assemblies.” “On India’s prescription, they created an artificial parliament and showed the country a fake democracy,” he added.

Bhuiyan cautioned that extending any form of legitimacy to such actors would be unacceptable not only to the government but also to all anti-fascist political forces. “If these identified fascists are supported in any way, both the government and pro-democracy forces will resist them,” he warned.

The adviser further alleged that certain quarters opposed to a genuine participatory election are attempting to reintegrate the Awami League in different formats to derail the democratic settlement envisioned under the July Charter.

“If anti-fascist political parties become the government and opposition through fair participation, then the settlement will materialize. That is why some actors, unable to repackage Awami League, will try to sabotage the election,” he remarked.

On the question of banning the Jatiya Party, Bhuiyan said the government has not yet taken an official decision. However, he confirmed that discussions are ongoing. “The government has already sat with stakeholders. Today, the Honorable Chief Adviser will also meet several political parties and July Uprising organizations. Any decision will be guided by the views of political forces and the people,” he noted.

Turning to Saturday’s violent assault on Nur, Bhuiyan said the government bore full responsibility for ensuring justice. “Such a heinous attack did not happen even during the Awami League regime, yet it has occurred under this government. The state must take responsibility,” he said.

Responding to allegations from Nur’s party that the army was involved in the incident, Bhuiyan disclosed that the government is considering forming a powerful probe body. “This was not an attack on an ordinary activist, but on the head of a political party. We did not see such incidents even during the Awami League’s time. It is deeply regrettable,” he said.

“The government is determined to bring the perpetrators to justice so that no one dares to commit such crimes in the future,” he concluded.