AL will not be permitted to hold protests

He made these remarks yesterday, just one day after the Awami League announced on Facebook that it would launch a nine-day program starting February 1, including hartals and blockades, to protest what it described as rising prices of essentials, worsening law and order, and the deaths of its leaders and activists. 

"Has any leader or member of the Awami League ever expressed regret for committing genocide? Have they sought forgiveness? You saw 71 children being killed, with shots fired at them from helicopters. Has anyone expressed remorse or offered an apology for this?" Shafiqul Alam said during a press conference at the Foreign Service Academy. "Has anyone in the Awami League said, 'We do not support the killings carried out by Hasina'? We want leadership with a clean record. But I don't see that. Instead, many are lying and spreading rumors and propaganda," he continued. 

Shafiqul Alam also posted on Facebook, saying, "Unless the Awami League apologizes for these massacres, killings, and blatant corruption, and until its corrupt leaders and activists are brought to justice, purged, and tried for their crimes—until the AL separates itself from its current leadership and fascist ideology—there is no way it will be allowed to hold protests."

He emphasized that the interim government will not permit any attempts to incite violence in the country. "Since taking office in early August, the Interim Government has not stopped or banned any lawful protests. We believe in freedom of assembly and association. A report this morning mentioned that at least 136 protests took place in Dhaka alone over the past five and a half months, some of which caused significant traffic disruptions. Yet, the IG [Inspector General of Police] has never imposed any restrictions on those protests."

He questioned, "But should we allow the fascist Awami League to protest? Video footage from July and August clearly shows AL party members were involved in the killings of peaceful protesters, including young students and minor children. The party leadership, under Sheikh Hasina, is responsible for the massacres, murders, and chaos during the July uprising."

He further accused Hasina of establishing a kleptocratic and murderous regime, claiming that under her rule, $234 billion was embezzled by her cronies, according to an independent panel. "Her family is now under investigation for making billions from corrupt deals," he wrote.

Shafiqul Alam also pointed out that no country allows a group of killers and corrupt individuals to return to power. "No nation permits a reset without accountability. The interim government represents the will of the Bangladeshi people, who will respond to protests by those responsible for the killings. We will not allow any attempts to drag the country into violence. Anyone who dares to hold illegal protests under the AL banner will face the full force of the law."