The National Citizen Party (NCP) held a protest rally on Friday, demanding the cancellation of the Awami League’s registration and a complete ban on the party, which they referred to as the “ousted party” following the mass uprising.
The rally, organized by the Dhaka metropolitan unit of the NCP, took place in front of the south gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.
During the rally, central leaders of NCP delivered remarks to the gathered crowd.
NCP Convenor Nahid Islam said: “Even nine months after the July mass uprising, we are still forced to take to the streets demanding the ban of the Awami League and the cancellation of its registration. We consider this a collective failure.
“One of our primary demands to the interim government formed in the aftermath of the July uprising was to ensure justice for the July massacre and the 16 years of fascist authoritarian rule.”
Calling for the elimination of the boat symbol from Bangladesh, Nahid said: “The UN report has clearly proven that the genocide and crimes against humanity in July and August were carried out under the direction and planning of Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League. Therefore, from today’s rally, we unequivocally state: the Awami League’s registration must be canceled immediately, and the boat symbol must be eradicated from Bangladesh.”
He continued: “The Awami League established autocracy through three elections by robbing people of their voting rights and committing murders. They endangered the sovereignty of Bangladesh. During the Shapla Chattar crackdown, the quota reform movement, the safe roads movement, and the anti-Modi protests, they resorted to killings and repression, using the country’s police, army, and BGB to unleash violence on its own citizens.”
Nahid added: “The Awami League is not a political party anymore. There is no room for dialogue about their right to participate in politics. Therefore, we demand that their registration be revoked and that the party be banned from political and organizational activities until justice is served.
“Sadly, we are seeing that many arrested Awami League leaders are being released on bail and are planning to rehabilitate themselves at the grassroots level under the patronage of other political parties.”
NCP Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain said: “The Election Commission must revoke the Awami League’s registration and classify it as a terrorist organization. It is a genocidal party and should no longer be allowed to engage in politics.
“On August 5, the people of Bangladesh made it clear that politics can no longer be carried out in the name of the Awami League or the Mujib ideology. From now on, the people will determine their own destiny.”
At the rally, Sarjis Alam, the chief organizer (Northern Region) of NCP, said: “The movement will continue until the Awami League is banned. They are complicit in the Pilkhana tragedy, the Shapla Chattar crackdown, and the July massacre. We had earlier launched a one-point movement against the killers.”
NCP Joint Chief Coordinator Tarikul Islam said: “We are witnessing hesitation over banning the Awami League — this is disgraceful. Don’t talk to us about the High Court. The July Revolution did not happen because of any court.”
Tarikul further said that they do not want to hear about bureaucratic complications. “There must be consensus among all political parties — the Awami League must be banned. Only after its trial and necessary reforms can elections take place,” he said.
Tasnuva Jabin, NCP joint convenor, said: “Efforts are being made to rehabilitate the Awami League. But the Awami League will never again be allowed to practise politics on the soil of Bengal InshaAllah.”
Addressing the interim government, NCP Joint Member Secretary Mahin Sarkar said: “Do not even slightly hesitate over banning the Awami League. No election must be held before fundamental reforms.”
