The interim government’s reluctance to outlaw the Awami League (AL) over alleged genocide charges has drawn sharp criticism from politicians and civil society members, who see it as a sign of political weakness.

However, the newly established National Citizens' Party (NCP), led by student activists, has issued an ultimatum demanding the party’s prohibition, intensifying tensions between the NCP and Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman over whether the AL should be allowed to contest elections.

Meanwhile, pro-AL factions have flooded social media with speculation about Sheikh Hasina’s return and rumors regarding the possible arrest of the chief advisor.

The AL faces accusations of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and orchestrating a massacre during the July uprising. Despite these allegations, the government has yet to take decisive action. The party’s student wing, Chhatra League, was banned last year under anti-terrorism laws following demands from the anti-discrimination student movement that led to Hasina’s ouster.

A recent cabinet meeting deliberated outlawing the AL, but the proposal was effectively shelved after opposition from two key advisers: the late land advisor and prominent lawyer Hasan Arif, and industry advisor and former Deputy Attorney General Adilur Rahman Khan.

UN report: 1,400 killed in July massacres

A UN fact-finding mission has confirmed that between July 1 and August 15 last year, 1,400 people were killed. Experts have called for the immediate repatriation and trial of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, citing audio evidence indicating she ordered indiscriminate shootings before fleeing on August 5.

Student leaders have demanded justice for the July victims and a complete ban on the AL, warning that failure to prosecute the perpetrators would undermine the sacrifices of the movement’s martyrs.

Mixed reactions to BCL ban

While the anti-discrimination movement hailed the ban on the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), other student groups expressed caution. In a statement from an undisclosed location, BCL leaders Saddam Hossain and Sheikh Wali Asif Inan dismissed the ban as a political conspiracy.

Founded in 1948 by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, BCL once played a crucial role in Bangladesh’s Language Movement and Liberation War. However, the organization now faces allegations of widespread violence and repression.

Global precedents vs. local inaction

The recent dissolution of Syria’s Ba’ath Party following Bashar al-Assad’s fall has prompted political analysts to question why Bangladesh’s interim government has not taken similar measures against the AL, despite its alleged war crimes.

Experts argue that the July uprising presented a rare opportunity to cleanse the political landscape of criminal elements. They stress that only educated and reform-minded youth can spearhead a political transformation.

Public distrust and demand for accountability

Public frustration over the government’s inaction continues to mount. Despite arrest warrants issued for over 100 security personnel implicated in atrocities, only 30 have been detained—a shortfall that has even drawn condemnation from the High Court. Calls for the home advisor’s resignation are growing louder.

The people demand that politicians align their actions with their rhetoric. For Bangladesh to move forward, citizens insist on a political framework free from corruption, ensuring future elections are untainted by extortionists and land grabbers.