Court to decide Awami League's fate as ban remains: Adviser Zahed

Prime Minister's Information and Broadcasting
Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman today (23 June) said whether the Awami League
will be banned as a party is entirely within the jurisdiction of the court and
the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT).
"However, while the judicial process for
the crimes against humanity in July-August is ongoing, any kind of political
activities of the party will remain banned at the field level. If the party
takes to the field with any programme until the trial is over, it will be acting
as a lawbreaker and the government will take action in this regard," he
said.
The adviser made the remarks while replying to
a question at the weekly press briefing held at the conference room of the
Press Information Department (PID) here this morning.
Responding to another question about the Awami
League's political programme, he said, "It is necessary to clarify whether
the Awami League party will be banned or not. That will be decided by the
court. Whether they were involved in crimes against humanity or not will be
decided as a result of the trial in the ICT. Until the trial is over, all
activities of the party will remain banned."
Zahed warned that if the party tries to hold
any programme at the field level, the government would take strict action to
this end.
He said the Awami League does not have the
moral courage to carry out any programme in field politics. "I personally
do not think that the Awami League has that kind of moral courage…the way
people stood in front of guns in the July-August movement, because their minds
were clear.
They loved the country. But some looters,
mafia, thieves and swindlers of Awami League do not have that moral courage.
They don't have that ability either," he added.
The adviser said although the Awami League
does not have the ability to do anything big, they have a lot of illegal money.
Army personnel have
been deployed in districts, considered risky by the government, so that the AL
men cannot create any sabotage or violence by spending the looted money, he
said.
"That does not mean that the Awami League
can do a lot. The government has taken this step entirely in the interest of
the people's safety."
Explaining the legal 'check list' and
democratic perimeter for participating in the elections, Zahed said, "In a
democratic situation, a political party has to be democratic. Whether they were
involved, as an organisation, in the crimes against humanity committed in July
or not is now a matter to be considered. It is a complete judicial
process."
"However, as citizens of a civilised
country, we all have to accept the verdict that the court delivers," he
said.
About the scope for Awami League leaders to
participate in the local government elections, the information adviser said
since the local government elections starting from September-October will be
completely non-partisan or without party symbols, there is no legal obstacle.
"Even if someone has been an Awami League
member in the past, if he/she is not involved in any crime or has no case
against him/her, the person can participate as an individual. But, no party
banner, slogan or party programme can be brought forward," he said.
Additional Secretary of the Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting Md Yasin and Principal Information Officer Syed
Abdal Ahmed were present at the briefing.
















