Bangladesh’s interim government has announced it will not permit the "fascist" Awami League to hold a rally

Describing the Awami League as "fascist," Bangladesh's interim government announced on Saturday, November 9, 2024, that it would not permit ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s party to hold a planned rally on Sunday, November 10. In a Facebook post, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus's press secretary, Shafiqul Alam, stated that the interim government would not tolerate any acts of violence or efforts to disrupt law and order in the country. "The Awami League in its current form is a fascist party, and there is no way this party will be allowed to hold protests in Bangladesh," he declared. Alam further warned that “anyone attempting to hold rallies, gatherings, or processions on orders from the mass murderer and dictator Sheikh Hasina will face the full force of law enforcement agencies.”

This statement came after the Awami League, on its verified Facebook page, called on supporters to assemble at Shaheed Noor Hossain Chattar (Zero Point) in Gulistan on Sunday to protest what it called "misrule." The party’s post stated, “Our protest is against the deprivation of the people’s rights, against the rise of fundamentalist forces, and against the conspiracy to disrupt the lives of ordinary citizens.” This marked the Awami League’s first rally call since August 5, when Hasina fled to India amid a massive student-led uprising against her administration. Awami League leaders also urged supporters to hold similar gatherings at grassroots levels across the country on Sunday to echo the spirit of their central protest.

Shaheed Noor Hossain Chattar holds significant historical value, as it was the site where Awami League youth leader Noor Hossain was killed on November 10, 1987, during a protest against military dictator General HM Ershad. The interim government recently banned the Awami League’s student wing, Bangladesh Chhatra League, over allegations of its "fascist role" during the July-August Anti-Discrimination Students Movement.

Originally sparked by demands for job quota reforms, this student-led movement grew into a mass protest that ultimately led to the fall of Hasina's government. Although there have been calls from various factions to ban the Awami League, Chief Adviser Yunus indicated that this decision should be left to the political parties. Some interim government ministers have opposed a ban, advocating for political inclusivity, while the Awami League’s main rival, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, also opposed banning any political party.