In a report titled "NCP to Pursue Demand for Awami League’s Deregistration," Prothom Alo stated that the National Citizens’ Party (NCP) supports banning the Awami League over allegations of genocide during the July uprising.
However, instead of an executive order, they want the Awami League banned through judicial processes.
Until the judicial process is completed, NCP is pushing for the immediate deregistration of the Awami League and plans to continue their campaign on this issue.
The NCP also wants to ensure that the Awami League and its affiliated organizations cannot carry out any political activities while the judicial process is ongoing.
They have expressed firm opposition to any attempts at rehabilitating the Awami League.
On the other hand, NCP leaders will remain cautious when discussing the Bangladesh Army and the Chief of Army Staff, General Waqar-uz-Zaman.
They will not endorse any propaganda against the army chief but will maintain their position against efforts to depoliticize or militarize politics.
The report, based on conversations with three senior NCP leaders, highlighted the party’s political stance. Senior Joint Convener Samanta Sharmin told Prothom Alo,
“At this moment, NCP is focusing on the deregistration of the Awami League. However, we will move toward banning the Awami League through various stages of the judicial process.”
Formed by student leaders who led the July uprising, the NCP officially launched on February 28. Its leaders have repeatedly called for the Awami League to be banned.
However, during a meeting with the International Crisis Group on March 20, interim government Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus said that the interim government had no plans to ban the Awami League.
The next day, NCP condemned this statement at a press conference. Nonetheless, the party reportedly decided to push for deregistration instead of an outright ban through an executive order.
According to party sources, they do not want the Awami League to have any opportunity to be active in politics or participate in the next national elections.
They believe that once Awami League leaders are tried in the International Crimes Tribunal, a judicial process will ultimately ban the party.
If their registration is revoked, the Awami League will not be able to contest the next election under their party symbol.
NCP leaders also believe that since Professor Yunus has stated that the interim government does not intend to ban the Awami League, it is unlikely that this position will change.
However, they see an opportunity to push for the Awami League’s deregistration by applying pressure.
An NCP leader, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Prothom Alo that their stance on banning the Awami League through an executive order has shifted.
This change came after the UN’s investigative report on the July uprising, which recommended against banning the party.
Following discussions, NCP decided to push for the demand of deregistration.
The leader also believes that once the Awami League is banned through judicial proceedings, there will be less room for controversy.
The NCP will remain vigilant to ensure that the Awami League is not able to engage in political activities and that no attempts to rehabilitate the party are made.
On March 22, at an Iftar gathering in Old Dhaka, NCP Convener Nahid Islam said that any plans to rehabilitate the Awami League would be firmly suppressed.
Later that day, at a program in Shahbagh, NCP`s Chief Organizer (Southern Region) Hasnat Abdullah said they do not support banning the Awami League through an executive order but rather demand a swift judicial process for the party.
Party sources have stated that after Eid-ul-Fitr, NCP will announce more programs demanding the Awami League`s deregistration.
Caution Regarding Army Discussions
On the night of March 20, Hasnat Abdullah stirred controversy with a Facebook post in which he claimed that there was a plan to introduce a “refined Awami League” as part of an Indian-backed conspiracy.
He wrote that this proposal was made during a meeting at a military cantonment.
Following his remarks, widespread debate ensued. The next day, Bangladesh Army Headquarters issued a statement to Sweden-based Netra News, stating that Hasnat’s post was “nothing more than a political stunt.”
It clarified that the meeting between Hasnat, Sarjis Alam (NCP’s Chief Organizer for the Northern Region), and the army chief took place on March 11 but was not initiated by the army.
The meeting occurred at the request of Hasnat and Sarjis.
The army further denied Hasnat’s claims about being summoned and pressured regarding Awami League’s rehabilitation, calling his remarks “ridiculous and immature storytelling.”
The following day, Sarjis posted on Facebook, clarifying that they were not summoned for the meeting and had requested it themselves.
He also did not believe that any pressure was exerted. NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary called Hasnat`s post "unprofessional."
This public statement, rather than an internal discussion, caused discomfort among NCP leaders.
As a result, the party’s leadership agreed to be cautious when speaking about the army and the army chief in the future.
Two senior NCP leaders told Prothom Alo that they would not support the ongoing campaigns to remove the army chief, as such actions could push the country into further uncertainty. \
However, they will emphasize that political decisions should be made by political parties, not by any other entities.
During a program in Shahbagh on March 22, Hasnat Abdullah stated,
"Our position is not against the army. We are against those who want to misuse the army."
Post-Eid Programs
NCP is planning programs after Eid-ul-Fitr to counter rumors of a military coup, Awami League’s "rehabilitation," and the party’s sudden political activities.
However, they have not yet finalized what these programs will be.
A party leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Prothom Alo,
"We will design our programs around the demand for Awami League’s trial and deregistration."
