Last year, the Awami League President and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced the manifesto for the 12th national election.

Jago news: Amid discussions and demands by major political parties like BNP regarding the election roadmap, the Chief Adviser of the interim government has given hints of a possible time frame of the next national election in the coming one-and-half years. And questions have already started arising if another major political party Awami League, ousted through a people’s revolution, would take part in that election.

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Recently, debates have been floating in the air as to whether there is any “obstacle” for the Awami League to participate in the election, following remarks by the head of the Election System Reform Commission, Badiul Alam Majumder.

Mr. Majumder told journalists in Rangpur last Thursday that he does not see any barrier at this moment for the Awami League to participate in the election.

However, on the same night, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement issued a statement denying Mr. Majumder’s comments.

Hasnat Abdullah, convenor of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, had said on Saturday, “Awami League, responsible for genocide, must be tried, and until that, the question of their participation in election is irrelevant.”

Another platform of anti-discrimination students, the National Citizen Committee also has the same position.

Later on Friday night, the chief of Election System Reform Commission, Badiul Alam Majumder called for an urgent press briefing to explain his comment.

On Saturday, Mr Majumder told Topnews23“Excluding Awami League or BNP or any party, or paving the way for participation of any party in election is not within the preview of our proposals.”

The Election Reform Commission is of the opinion that according to the current election laws, unless legally banned or found guilty through court procedures, there is always an opportunity for the Awami League to participate in elections.

During students’ protests in July and August, the International Crimes Tribunal started an investigation against Sheikh Hasina and other leaders of the Awami League on charges of genocide.

Chief Prosecutor of the tribunal, Tajul Islam, told Topnews23 “Investigations are ongoing against individuals on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity. We are not currently investigating any party as a whole. In the future, if we think the Awami League needs to be tried as a party, that will be addressed then.”

It is within this context that questions have arisen about the feasibility of Awami League’s participation as a party in the forthcoming elections.

After the fall of the Awami League government, the party’s central office was extensively vandalized.

The reason behind the sudden discussion.

Last Thursday afternoon, the head of the Election System Reform Commission, Badiul Alam Majumder, held a meeting with the local administration, political parties and representatives of civil society on electoral reforms at the Rangpur Deputy Commissioner’s office.

Later, journalists asked Mr. Majumder whether the Awami League would be able to participate in the upcoming elections.

In response, he stated, “We want an inclusive election. Those who are ready to participate in the election should face no obstacles. That is the kind of election we aim for.”

He further added, “Unless disqualified, they (including the Awami League) will also be able to participate in the election. Such opportunities should be available to everyone.”

That same night, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement issued a statement rejecting Mr. Majumder’s remarks.

The organization said, “The Awami League is a group responsible for multiple genocides in Bangladesh. Besides, during the last 16 years, the party has been involved in enforced disappearances, killings, extrajudicial executions, and various human rights violations. Recently, in the July genocide, the party killed almost 2,000 martyrs and injured more than 30,000 people.”

The statement further added, “A party that has tainted Bangladesh’s electoral system should not be given the opportunity to participate in elections, as it goes against public aspirations.”

In its statement, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement called on Mr. Badiul Alam Majumder to retract his remarks and take appropriate measures to prevent the Awami League from participating in the elections.

On Friday night, Mr. Majumder addressed a press conference explaining his statement.

Talking to Topnews23, Mr. Majumder said, “If any party is banned by using executive orders, the Election Commission can cancel its registration. As long as it stays registered, we have no authority to keep them away from election.

Follow the Topnews23.com channel on News to stay updated.

On August 5, after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, thousands of people celebrated with jubilation at the Prime Minister’s Office.

First, justice for the genocide, then other questions–Jago news:

Several leaders of the Awami League, along with leaders from its allied 14-party coalition, have already been arrested in connection with various genocide cases after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government.
They are being presented before the International Crimes Tribunal for these genocide cases.

On Thursday night, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement released a statement: “The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement does not support the participation of the Awami League in any political activity. If the Awami League joins the elections or any other political activity, then it would devalue the blood of the martyrs of the July uprising.”

Hasnat Abdullah, the organisation’s convenor, told Topnews23, “As a party, the Awami League is involved in genocide. The 14-party alliance is also involved in the same crimes. First, there must be justice for the genocide, then we can address other issues.”

Another platform of anti-discrimination students, the National Citizen Committee, has also been holding meetings and rallies to raise public awareness on the need for prosecution of Awami League leaders along with the whole organization.

This group thus believes that if the Awami League as a party is not held accountable now, it could hinder the democratic processes in the times to come.

The convenor of the committee, Nasiruddin Patoari, told Topnews23 “The Awami League has carried out indiscriminate killings. Thousands of students have been injured. If those responsible for these crimes are not held accountable before engaging in the election process, the situation could become even more complicated.”

“If everything happens within the judicial process, many of our questions will be resolved,” Mr. Patoari added.

Bangladesh Election Commission

What does the election law say?

On Friday night, during a press conference held to clarify his statement, Badiul Alam Majumder, head of the Election System Reform Commission, said, “Several cases have already been filed against Sheikh Hasina and many other Awami League leaders under the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) law. The Awami League’s participation in the election will depend on the resolution of these cases.”

Experts in election laws say a conviction under this law will prevent him from running for election.

Under the Representation of the People Order (RPO) relating to parliamentary elections in Bangladesh, a candidate found guilty under the International Crimes Tribunal law is barred from contesting in parliamentary elections.

Election expert Dr. Abdul Alim told Topnews23“If a party is convicted in court or banned through executive orders, the Election Commission can cancel their registration. In such a case, the Awami League or any other party will not be able to participate in the election.”

Mr. Alim added that the Election Commission also has the right to cancel a party’s registration if it fails to participate in two consecutive elections or if its party constitution contradicts the national constitution.

More importantly, election experts say that if a person is convicted of electoral or criminal offenses and sentenced to a minimum of two years imprisonment, they may regain their eligibility to contest parliament after serving their imprisonment. However, in the case of conviction under the ICT law, they will be disqualified from taking part in elections forever.

Badiul Alam Majumder, the head of Election System Reform Commission told Topnews23 that they do not have any plan to withdraw this provision in the ICT law in their proposed reforms.

The election symbol of the Awami League is the boat.

Tribunal and the trial of the Awami League.

In the last three and a half months, close to two hundred complaints have been lodged with the office of the Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal.

These cases involve former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, members of the Ministers of Awami League Government, former Advisers to the Prime Minister, State Ministers, Members of the Parliament, Leaders and activists of the Awami League and its frontal organizations, senior leaders of the 14-party alliance, and many former and current civil servants, among others.

Furthermore, there are several complaints about enforced disappearance and killings during more than 15 years of AL rule before the tribunal. According to the information received so far, investigations into all these incidents have already started by the International Crimes Tribunal.

The Chief Prosecutor of the Tribunal, Tajul Islam, told Topnews23, “The investigation is ongoing at this moment. After the investigation is completed, we will formally file charges, and only then will the formal trial process begin. It is not possible to say when this will start or end.”

However, on preliminary proceedings, he said trials of individuals would be held first. He declined comments for now on the trial process relating to the Awami League or any political party.

On the issue of the Awami League and questions of justice and elections, he told Topnews23, “When this falls within our jurisdiction, only then will we comment on it. The Awami League was involved in crimes against humanity, and they had to flee in the face of an uprising. In that context, the politicians and the general public of Bangladesh will decide whether the Awami League will participate in the elections or not.”