'Apology to nation, renouncing ideology, criminal trials among conditions for AL's return'

"Those directly responsible for the atrocities during the July uprising, including Sheikh Hasina, must face trials. Any discussion on their comeback can take place only if these conditions are met," says the head of the Constitution Reform Commission

Conditions for AL outlined by Ali Riaz: 

Issuing unequivocal apology for crimes committed during 16 years in power, particularly 2024 uprising
Renouncing its current ideology
Ensuring that no member of Hasina's family leads AL again
Facing trials for committing heinous crimes including crimes against humanity

Awami League (AL) needs to issue an unequivocal apology for crimes committed during its 16 years in power, particularly the 2024 uprising and renounce its current ideology for a potential comeback, Ali Riaz, head of the Constitution Reform Commission, has said.

While talking to Al-Jazeera, the political analyst outlined four conditions that AL would need to meet for any chance of a potential comeback.

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The two other conditions are ensuring that no member of Hasina's family leads the party again and AL facing trials for committing heinous crimes, including crimes against humanity, said Riaz, a distinguished professor at the Department of Politics and Government at Illinois State University.

"Those directly responsible for the atrocities during the July uprising, including Sheikh Hasina, must face trials. Any discussion on their comeback can take place only if these conditions are met," Riaz told Al Jazeera. 

The Qatar-based media spoke to Riaz on whether it would be possible for AL to resurrect itself after it was ousted from power on 5 August last year through a student-led mass uprising that saw massive bloodshed. The Al-Jazeera report was published yesterday (27 January).

Ali Riaz was appointed head of the Constitution Reform Commission formed by the interim government on 18 September last year.

On 16 December last year, he was also made the vice chairman of the National Consensus Building Commission, led by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, which has been tasked with building a consensus on a series of proposed reforms.

On 15 January, the Constitutional Reform Commission recommended a four-year bicameral parliament, curbing the prime minister's absolute power, and restoring the balance of institutional authorities.

In its report submitted to the chief adviser, the commission presented 68 proposals across seven major constitutional sections while recommending the repeal of 13 sections.

Former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India with her sister Sheikh Rehana on 5 August in the face of a mass uprising led by students. She has been in India since then.

After the fall of the Awami League (AL) government, at least 60 cases or complaints of enforced disappearances, killings, genocide, and crimes against humanity were lodged at the International Crimes Tribunal, accusing Sheikh Hasina, leaders of the Awami League and 14 party alliance, and senior officials of different law enforcement agencies.

Numerous cases on various charges, including murder and attempt to murder, have also been filed against the ousted prime minister, who ruled the country with an iron fist for 15 years, and AL leaders.

Amid the demand for a ban on AL, the interim government banned the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) as a terrorist organisation on 23 October last year. 

News Courtesy:

TBS | January 28, 2025