Bangladesh: Thousands gather to pay final respects to Awami League veteran, despite ban

DHAKA : Chants of “Joy Bangla”, a slogan of the 1971 Liberation War closely associated with Awami League, echoed in central Dhaka, as thousands gathered to pay their final respects to party veteran Tofail Ahmed on Monday, despite a ban on the Sheikh Hasina-led outfit. Tofail, an eight-time MP, former minister and one of the prominent figures of Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War, passed away at a hospital here on Monday at 3:30pm. He was 82.

The gathering in Dhanmondi, many in Dhaka’s political circles believe is not only indicative of the support that Hasina has, but also corroborates the buzz that a “reformed or refined” Awami League may be in the making.

The crowd raised slogans in support of both Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and former PM Hasina, who has been sentenced to death in cases of crime against humanity in absentia.

Speculation about a possibility of Awami League gradually gaining support was triggered after a former adviser of the Muhammad Yunus-led interim govt recently claimed reasons such as the interim govt’s minimal reforms, inaction over persecution of minorities and it “embracing” hardline Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami in order to contain BNP, made way for Awami League to “effectively” return to Bangladesh’s political arena.

Dipen Dewan, minister in minority communities, quitsLess than four months into PM Tarique Rahman’s administration, Dipen Dewan — one of two ministers from minority communities — resigned from the cabinet on Monday citing health concerns.

Chittagong Hill Tracts affairs minister Dewan — a Buddhist and a prominent tribal face — said deteriorating health had made it increasingly difficult for him to fulfil his responsibilities effectively.

Nitai Roy Chowdhury — a Hindu — is the other minority community minister in the Rahman cabinet. He is the cultural affairs minister
In his resignation letter, Dewan (62) mentioned his physical condition was creating obstacles to the regular execution of ministerial duties.

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