Dhaka: Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has announced that no one will be permitted to hold protests under the banner of the fallen Awami League (AL). “Anyone dares to hold illegal protests under AL banner will face full power of the law,” he stated in a post on his verified Facebook account today.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, since the interim government took over in early August, it has not stopped or banned any lawful protests. Alam emphasized that the government believes in freedom of assembly and freedom of association. He highlighted a report from the morning which indicated that at least 136 protests occurred in Dhaka over the past five and a half months, some of which led to significant traffic congestion. Despite this, the interim government has not imposed any restrictions on the protests.
Alam questioned whether the Fascist Awami League party should be allowed to hold protests, pointing to video footage from July and August showing AL party activists involved in the killings of peaceful protesters, including young students and a minor child. He accused the party leadership, headed by Sheikh Hasina, of being responsible for the massacres, murders, and mayhem during the July mass uprising.
The press secretary cited a statement from New York-based Human Rights Watch, which quoted officers alleging that Hasina directly ordered killings and enforced disappearances during her 16-year rule. He described Hasina’s regime as a Kleptocracy, stating that US$ 234 billion was siphoned off by her cronies, and her family is under investigation for corrupt dealings.
Alam further claimed that approximately 3,500 people fell victim to enforced disappearances, around 3,000 were extra-judicially killed, and protesters were massacred at Shapla Chattar and after the verdict of Maulana Sayedee. He alleged that the police force became a “Police League,” with six million opposition activists facing false charges. He also mentioned the brutal treatment of the country’s first Hindu Chief Justice, who was forced to resign and go into exile.
He asserted that unless the AL apologizes for its alleged crimes and its leaders submit to justice, they will not be allowed to hold protests. He drew a parallel with historical events, questioning whether the Mitra Bahini allowed the Nazis to hold protests. Alam emphasized that no country permits a return to power for a group accused of such crimes without accountability.
The interim government, he stated, represents the will of the Bangladeshi people, who will not tolerate a resurgence of violence. “We will not allow any attempts to push the country into violence,” Alam declared.