Various discussions are underway regarding the report submitted by the fact-finding team of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Does this report cast doubt on the future of Awami League and Sheikh Hasina in politics?
The trial process against Sheikh Hasina at the International Crimes Against Humanity Tribunal has already begun. On October 11, Legal Advisor Dr. Asif Nazrul said, 'The tribunal will deliver its verdict on two or three cases by next October.' So far, 108 murder cases have been filed against Sheikh Hasina, of which 16 have been submitted to the tribunal.
Last week, Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan, advisor to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development (LGRD) and Cooperatives, also spoke on the issue. He told the state-run news agency BSS, "The current government will soon take steps to ban Awami League as a political party." He added, "It is very positive that a kind of consensus is being formed among the political parties to ban Awami League."
The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, which led the August 5 student uprising, and another of their organizations, the National Citizens Committee, have been demanding a ban on the Awami League. They say that Sheikh Hasina's rehabilitation in Bangladeshi politics is impossible. The interim government has already banned the Awami League's student organization, Chhatra League. The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement also held a sit-in in Dhaka on Wednesday evening demanding a ban on the Awami League.
Abdul Hannan Masud, the organization's chief organizer, said, "After the UN report, Sheikh Hasina is now an internationally recognized terrorist. Her party, Awami League, is also a terrorist party. The mastermind of the genocide, Sheikh Hasina, has used the government's police, administration and her party to kill people and stay in power. Sheikh Hasina is now an irrelevant issue in Bangladeshi politics. And the Awami League should be banned until the trial is over."
Monira Sharmin, joint convener of the National Citizens' Committee, said, "We have seen the terrifying picture of the mirror house. On the same day, the UN report made it clear that Sheikh Hasina and her party were involved in genocide. We not only want the Awami League banned, but also want the Awami League to be brought to justice. Therefore, if any amendment to the law is needed, the SAARC will have to do it. And not only Sheikh Hasina, but all those involved in genocide must be brought to justice."
He believes, 'Awami League has lost its legitimacy as a party. And the mastermind of the entire genocide is the head of that party, Sheikh Hasina. As a result, the party says and Sheikh Hasina says, no one has a chance to be rehabilitated in politics anymore.'
Ruhin Hossain Prince, general secretary of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), however, believes that the time has not yet come to say the last word about the Awami League or Sheikh Hasina. He said, "If democratic practices are carried out properly in Bangladesh now, given the way the Awami League has fallen after the last 15 years of dictatorship, then I do not see any possibility of the Awami League making a quick turnaround. But in Bangladeshi politics, if those who come to power or join the government after defeating others are again partners in wrongdoing, then the old ones get a chance again. So, I think the time has not yet come to say everything."
However, he added, "Sheikh Hasina has committed the crime of genocide. She has killed people using her police, administration, and party leaders and workers to stay in power. Her trial is underway. If there is a fair trial, she will be found guilty. And if that happens, she will have no chance to return to politics."
At that time, he reiterated his previous position and said, "We have not been in favor of banning any party from the beginning. We want the individual's crimes to be judged."
BNP Vice Chairman Asaduzzaman Ripon said, "More than Awami League returning to politics, after the UN report, I wonder how Awami League or its leaders can think of returning to politics. They should cover their faces in shame now. Now that the UN report has been published, their crimes are internationally recognized. I don't think they have the right to do politics anymore."
"Sheikh Hasina is not alone here, her party leaders have lost the right to do politics at all levels. They are involved in killings and disappearances. I don't see any future for their politics," he said.
In response to a question, he said, "A section of the people, including Sheikh Hasina, have fled the country. Those who have fled here are also in confusion. Sheikh Hasina is misleading them with various speeches and statements from outside the country. They are dreaming of regaining the lost empire. But that dream will remain a dream."
Although the UN report alleges serious human rights violations against Sheikh Hasina, the administration, law enforcement and her party members, the recommendation clearly states that they do not want any political party to be banned. Senior journalist and political analyst Masud Kamal said, "If the Awami League can handle the UN report properly, it is positive for them. And if it cannot handle it properly, it is negative for them. But they cannot dismiss this UN report. Because, they have international recognition. There is not a single piece of information in this report that goes in favor of Sheikh Hasina. It has been proven that Sheikh Hasina is a criminal. As a result, in my opinion, Sheikh Hasina is now a burden for the Awami League. If the Awami League wants to move forward with Sheikh Hasina, it will be like a suitcase with a broken handle. And if the Awami League abandons Sheikh Hasina and reorganizes the party anew, excluding criminals, then it will be in a very good position in the future. And if it wants to move forward with Sheikh Hasina, the Awami League will be in the worst position in its history in the future."
"It will not be acceptable if the Awami League is banned as a party. Because, as the UN report says, they are not in favor of banning any party. I am not saying that it must be accepted. But if the Awami League is banned, the international community will not accept it," he said.
Masud Kamal believes, 'Over the past 40 years, Sheikh Hasina has run the party in such a way that Sheikh Hasina and Awami League have become one, synonymous. As a result, a large section of leaders and workers are unable to think of anything other than Sheikh Hasina. This is their problem now.'
In this regard, Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Omar Faruk said, "The UN report did not mention banning the Awami League. They do not want any party to be banned. But the problem is that the party's leaders and their followers have committed so many crimes, including murder and genocide, that now they cannot go to the people. The situation has become more difficult for them after the UN report. Because this report was not done by this government, it was done by an international organization. And Sheikh Hasina and her associates are being tried. If they are convicted, then there will be no more opportunity to do politics."
According to him, 'Sheikh Hasina is making the situation worse by sitting outside the country and saying various things. She is trying to create instability in the country. This is increasing people's hatred towards her and her party. It is better for her to remain silent.'
