Hasnat shares a Facebook post regarding the 'Refined Awami League' proposal

Hasnat Abdullah Alleges Conspiracy to Rehabilitate Awami League Under a New Banner

Hasnat Abdullah, a leader of the newly formed National Citizen Party, claimed in a Facebook post early today that a conspiracy is underway to restore the Awami League under the guise of a "Refined Awami League," allegedly orchestrated at India’s behest.

According to Hasnat, a proposal for this revamped version of the Awami League—led by former AL figures such as Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, and Fazle Noor Taposh—was presented to him and two others "by the cantonment" on the afternoon of March 11.

Hasnat, one of the most prominent figures in the July uprising, stated, "We were asked to accept this proposal in exchange for a seat-sharing agreement." While he did not elaborate further, the term likely refers to a negotiated distribution of parliamentary seats. He added, "We were informed that multiple political parties had already received and accepted similar offers, agreeing to Awami League's rehabilitation under certain conditions. According to them, having multiple opposition parties, including a weakened Awami League, is preferable to a single strong opposition."

Additionally, Hasnat claimed they were told that those leading the "Refined Awami League" would begin publicly acknowledging the alleged crimes of the Sheikh family from April-May onwards, distancing themselves from Sheikh Hasina while pledging allegiance solely to Bangabandhu's Awami League.

Rejecting the offer outright, Hasnat asserted that efforts should focus on prosecuting the Awami League rather than rehabilitating it. Without naming specific individuals behind the proposal, he alleged that they were warned of potential consequences if they refused, being told that "Awami League must return."

In his post, Hasnat recounted his response before abruptly ending the meeting: "No inclusivity is possible with the Awami League. If you attempt to reinstate them, it will be over our dead bodies. You will be responsible for any crisis arising from efforts to bring them back."

He further claimed that similar pressures had been exerted during the July uprising. "Agencies and the cantonment tried to push various agendas on us, but we never caved. Instead, we placed our faith in the people—and together, we ensured Hasina’s downfall."

Expressing concerns for his safety, Hasnat declared, "I don’t know what consequences await me after this post. I may face immense pressure or even danger. However, there can be no compromise on banning the Awami League."

He urged the public to mobilize once again, stating, "In July, your powerful movement rejected all external prescriptions. If you stand with us today, we will defeat this attempt to rehabilitate the Awami League. If they return to politics, our hard-won gains will be undone. As long as we have a single drop of blood left, we will not allow the sacrifices of our martyrs to be in vain. In Bangladesh, after August 5, there is no place for the Awami League’s comeback—the party must be banned."

Meanwhile, around 2:00 AM today, a group of Dhaka University students marched on campus, demanding a ban on the Awami League. Led by former central co-coordinators of Students Against Discrimination, AB Zubayer and Musaddiq Ali Ibne Muhammad, the protesters marched from the Hall Para area to the base of the Raju Sculpture, where they held a brief rally.

At the rally, Zubayer alleged that various political groups, agencies, and communities were pressuring the government to prevent the Awami League’s ban. "There will be no elections in this country until Awami League is banned or justice is served for mass killings," he declared.

Speaking to our correspondent, Zubayer explained that the protest was a direct response to the government's stance on the issue.

Yesterday, during a meeting with the International Crisis Group, Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus stated that the interim government has no plans to ban the Awami League. However, he assured that individuals within its leadership accused of crimes—including murder and crimes against humanity—would be tried in Bangladeshi courts.

At the rally, another demonstration was announced for 3:00 PM today at the same location. Protesters also called on students nationwide to gather in front of their institutions, demanding Awami League’s ban and justice for the July killings.