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Protestors have asked for a referendum on the issue of imposing a ban on Awami League’s return to Bangladeshi politics
Published : 21 Mar 2025, 11:47 AM
A group of students have staged a late-night protest march at Dhaka University to demand the withdrawal of the chief advisor's statement on banning the Awami League, in addition to reiterating their previous demand to ban the ousted political party.
They have also called a protest rally at 3pm on Friday at the base of the university’s Raju Memorial Sculpture to press for the same demand.
Around 1:30am on Thursday, a group of students took out a procession from the university’s residential hall area.
The procession circled the courtyard in front of the Vice Chancellor's Office and ended at the base of the Raju sculpture. There, the protesters lit fires and staged a demonstration before holding a brief rally.
On Thursday, during a discussion at the state guesthouse Jamuna with a delegation led by Comfort Ero, the president and CEO of the International Crisis Group, Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus said that the interim government has no plans to ban the Awami League.
However, he mentioned that leaders of the party who are accused of murder and crimes against humanity would face trials in court.
AB Jobayer, a student of the Islamic Studies Department, said at the protest rally: “We have confidence in the chief advisor. However, various individuals around him, including different ‘agencies,’ are creating obstacles for him.”
“The Awami League must be banned immediately for its role in genocide. Until the decision to ban the Awami League is finalised, the students and the people will remain on the streets. We will not betray the blood of the martyrs,” he declared.
“A referendum should be organised regarding the ban on the Awami League. The people of the country do not want the Awami League to return. The people of Bangladesh are with you (the chief advisor).”
Addressing the chief advisor, he said: “Withdraw your statement immediately. There will be no elections until Awami League is banned.”
Mosaddek Ali Ibn Mohammad, a student of the Department of Bangla, said at the rally: "Different political parties are rehabilitating the Awami League using different methods. The people decided to ban the Awami League on Aug 5.”
“It is either the Awami League or the student community. As long as there is a single drop of blood in our veins, we will not allow the Awami League to continue in politics,” he declared.
He also called on students from schools, colleges, and universities to take to the streets in solidarity with their demands.
