Suspension on AL’s political activities can be lifted anytime: CA tells Zeteo

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has said that the authorities have not banned Awami League as a political party, and imposed suspension on only its political activities, which can be lifted “anytime.”

The Nobel Peace Laureate made the remarks when giving an interview to news organization Zeteo on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly’s 80th annual session in New York.

When Zeteo's Mehdi Hasan asked Prof Yunus whether he meant that AL's activities could be "unsuspended", Yunus said, "That's a possibility."

Mehdi then asked if Awami League can contest the upcoming general elections. Yunus replied: “not for the time being.”

Prof Yunus justified that the temporary suspension of AL’s political activities is not the same as the measures the party took against dissenters during its time in power. AL continues to be a legal political party, only is activities have been suspended, which can also be withdrawn “anytime,” he told Mehdi.

Prof Yunus refuted criticisms raised by Amartya Sen and others' over the interim government’s action against AL.

Mehdi referred to possible concerns among analysts that the evil legacy of a new government suppressing its previous government continues in Bangladesh.

At this, Prof Yunus said that without the suspension on AL’s political activities for the time being, elections cannot be arranged in Bangladesh. The party’s activities are not of a political one, he said.

“They killed people—yet they have shown no remorse for it. They have not taken responsibility for anything they did during this time. Not a single word. They keep blaming others for everything instead,” the Nobel Laureate added.