BNP top leader Salahuddin Ahmed was present at a discussion meeting at the International Mother Language Institute in the capital today. Photo: BSS

DHAKA, May 11, 2025 (BSS) - BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed today said they applauded the government for banning the political activities of Awami League until the trial of the AL and its leaders is completed.

"A historic eventful period has taken place in Bangladesh. There are precedents in different countries of the world that fascist parties, which are responsible for genocide are brought into the judicial process as a party and banned. We welcome the government for including the trial of Awami League by amending the International Crimes Tribunal law. BNP respects the nation's desire on the issue of banning Awami League," he said.

Salahuddin Ahmed made these remarks  at a discussion at the International Mother Language Institute in the capital.

The senior BNP leader said, "Why the BNP has to go to Shahbag to talk? A few months ago, the BNP demanded the trial of the Awami League as a party in writing to the chief advisor. At that time, the demand was made to bring the Awami League under trial for crimes against humanity and genocide. If our advice had been taken into account on time, such an embarrassing situation would not have arisen."

"The government has decided to ban the activities of the Awami League under the Anti-Terrorism Act. We think that the government should bring some amendments to the Anti-Terrorism Act for this. Because this law has mentioned the ban on political parties," he said.

He also said that there is no mention of banning political activities here.

Stating that people across the country are eager to vote in the next parliamentary elections, the BNP leader said, for that, BNP has called on the chief adviser to announce a roadmap for the next elections soon.

BNP has been talking about democratic politics for so long, how democratic is it to ban Awami League's political activities? In response to a question from journalists, Salahuddin Ahmed said, "You have to understand that does the world now recognize Awami League as a political party? They had become a fascist force, a mafia force. They practiced fascist and mafia rule on the people of the country for a long time. They are no longer a political party. Therefore, we do not want to give them any label of a political party. We must ensure that no one, local or foreign, can raise questions in the judgment of the party."