Lawyer seeks ban on all groups in Awami League-led 14-party alliance

The alliance is a threat to national security and the parliamentary election, a legal notice says

A lawyer has sought the banning of all groups in the Awami League-led 14-party alliance.

On behalf of lawyer Abdullah Al Mahmud, ASM Shahriar Kabir sent a notice to the chief election commissioner, Election Commission, EC secretary, cabinet secretary and the law ministry on Tuesday.

According to the notice, the alliance partners were involved in “crimes against humanity, including abduction, murder, and genocide” during the July Uprising, in addition to destroying all the fundamental structures of the Constitution and all state institutions.

The alliance was also accused of rigging votes in the 2009, 2014, 2018, and 2024 elections.

Between Jul 1 and Aug 5, the alliance was allegedly involved in killing 1,400 people and injuring thousands of others.

On May 12, the government on May 12 banned all activities of the Awami League but failed to initiate similar actions against members of the 14-party alliance, though they stand on the same foundation as Awami League, the notice said.

Accusing it of spreading rumours and hatred, the notice said the alliance is a threat to national security and holding the parliamentary election peacefully.

The alliance emerged during the tenure of the BNP-Jamaat-led alliance government after the Aug 21 grenade attack on Awami League in 2004. The alliance was founded on 23 points.

The 14-party alliance came to power with a landslide victory during the Army-backed former caretaker government in 2008.