Restore democracy, Awami League seniors exiled in Kolkata appeal to Bangladesh PM

KOLKATA: As Tarique Rahman's swearing-in as the prime minister of Bangladesh marked the end of a two-decade hiatus from power for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Awami League leaders expressed hope that the newly elected govt would restore democracy in the country and lift the ban on their party. Several Awami League leaders have been living in exile in Kolkata.Former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina sent an audio message to party leaders in exile on Tuesday evening, claiming the election was engineered and widespread fraudulent voting marred the polling process. Hasina's son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy — who had hinted at reaching out to the BNP a few days ago — remained silent on that matter on Tuesday. "The party workers will have to decide who will lead politics in Bangladesh. I cannot tell them who is going to be their next leader," he said in a video message posted on the Awami League's Facebook page. Alauddin Ahmed Chowdhury, former MP of Feni-1, said they do not have high expectations for the current govt, citing the BNP's governance between 2001 and 2006. "However, we expect them to honour the democratic process and lift the ban on Awami League. The interim govt imposed the ban and barred the largest party in Bangladesh from participating in the elections. They need to restore a democratic environment in the country and regain the trust of the people," Chowdhury said.Awami League leaders on Tuesday pointed to thousands of "fake cases" registered against leaders and party workers. Two weeks ago, a Dhaka court sentenced Hasina to 10 years of imprisonment in connection with corruption cases. Earlier, she had been sentenced to death in absentia on charges of crimes against humanity. "These cases lodged by the interim government are baseless and need to be quashed immediately. It was a ploy by the interim government to silence a party that has the support of more than half the population of Bangladesh," Chowdhury said.Rokeya Prachi, former cultural secretary of the party's women's wing, said the current govt needs to punish those who committed crimes against minorities after Aug 5, 2024, and destroyed historical monuments. "We have seen that in countries like Nepal, such offenders were punished. The interim govt had granted them indemnity, but they should be put behind bars now," she said.Prachi also said the country's economic condition has hit a new low. "The current govt must prioritize the development of the country's economy. People have lost jobs. Banks and stock markets are facing a crisis. This needs to be addressed immediately," she said.