The Awami League is planning to form a new organisation with the country's Olamas or Islamic scholars by dissolving the Awami Olama League, which has become controversial for its activities.

Two factions of the Awami Olama League have fought pitched battles at a protest programme in Dhaka.

Awami Olama League factions have accused each other of having links with the outlawed Ansarullah Bangla Team.

The media was threatened in an e-mail by none other than the leaders of an Awami Olama League faction that used the name of banned militant outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team, its rival group alleges.

Awami League must explain the nature of its relationship with Awami Olama League which has recently demanded a ban on Bangla New Year celebrations, an anti-communal platform has said.

The Awami League (AL) has no relations with the Awami Olama League, which identifies itself as an affiliate of the ruling party, says Mahbub-Ul-Alam Hanif.

The Bangladesh Awami Olama League has welcomed the government's restrictions on Bangla New Year celebrations and asked it to altogether clamp a ban on the celebrations.

Ruling party general secretary Obaidul Quader has said the ‘shops’ like Olama League must be closed as they are, at times, tarnishing the image of the party.