Leaders of the National Citizen Party on Friday demanded trial of and ban on ousted Awami League before the national election for the AL鈥檚 involvement in mass killings in the country during the student-led mass uprising in July-August past year.
They raised the demand at a protest rally organised by the NCP鈥檚 Dhaka metropolitan unit in front of the south gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in the capital Dhaka.
Student leaders of the successful July-August mass uprising against the authoritarian Awami League regime on February 28 launched the new political party, National Citizen Party.
Addressing Friday鈥檚 rally, NCP convener Nahid Islam said that the party was demanding a ban on the AL鈥檚 political and organisational activities before the national election as the AL was not a political party but a 鈥榝ascist criminal organisation鈥�.
Referring to the AL鈥檚 involvement in vote rigging in the past three national elections, BDR carnage, Shapla Square massacre and killings in mass uprising, Nahid said that there would be no place for the AL in the country before its trial as party.
Demanding immediate cancelation of the AL鈥檚 party registration, he said that the AL鈥檚 electoral symbol 鈥楤oat鈥� would be wiped out.
鈥楢ll the political and organisational activities of AL must be banned through legal processes till the trial of the AL will continue,鈥� said Nahid.
He stated that the Election Commission did not agree on disqualifying the candidacy of AL leaders saying that it was a political decision although the election reform commission clearly recommended that no one who were involved in mass killings could participate in elections.
Nahid called for establishing anti-fascist platforms in districts and unions to demand the trial of AL.
鈥楾he trial of AL and fascism will be ensured in the court of people if the government fails to ensure it,鈥� said Nahid.
He also said that people鈥檚 demand for trial of and ban on the AL after nine months of the uprising was a collective failure as people took to the streets during the uprising for justice and reforms.
NCP senior joint convener Samanta Shermeen said that they had only two demands to the interim government 鈥� justice and reforms 鈥� but they were experiencing unnecessary delays in getting those.
NCP member secretary Akhter Hossain stated that the AL was involved in crimes against humanity and mass killing.
鈥楾hey have no right to do politics,鈥� said Akhter.
He stated that some political parties were trying to give space to the AL and he warned them of organising strong protests against them with students and people.
鈥榃ithout solving the AL issue, there will be no election,鈥� said Akhter.
Addressing interim government chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, NCP chief organiser for South Hasnat Abdullah said that he was made the chief adviser on the blood of injured and martyrs.
鈥榃e are not making any request or demand to you (chief adviser). We are informing the decision. The Awami League must be banned,鈥� said Hasnat.
NCP senior joint convener Ariful Islam Adib, chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary, senior joint chief coordinator Abdul Hannan Masud, chief organiser for North Sarjis Alam, senior joint member secretary Tasnim Jara, among others, also spoke at the rally.
