Bangladesh issues security alert ahead of Awami League anniversary
Bangladesh has issued a nationwide security alert ahead of the June 23 founding anniversary of the banned Awami League, fearing unrest and sabotage attempts. The interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, toppled Sheikh Hasina’s administration last August after the July Uprising.
Dhaka: Bangladesh on Saturday issued a nationwide security alert over possible unrest ahead of the founding anniversary of the now-disbanded Awami League, the party of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
The party was disbanded by the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government after Hasina’s government was toppled on August 5, 2024, following a violent student-led street protest dubbed the July Uprising.
“We have intelligence information that Awami League may try to create unrest and instability in the country surrounding June 23,” Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said while addressing a press conference.
Law enforcement agencies have been directed to enforce maximum vigilance during the next few days and take all necessary measures to prevent any acts of sabotage, unrest, or attempts to disrupt public order surrounding the occasion, he said.
Ahmed also said that the government is closely monitoring the situation, and the incumbent government does not consider the Awami League a political party and instead treats it as a “mafia organisation”.
Earlier on Friday, in an internal communication to its field-level offices and units, the police headquarters said that the leaders and activists belonging to the Awami League might try to hoist party flags at local offices and bring out processions carrying banners to mark its founding anniversary in different parts of the country.
It added that such activities could trigger confrontations with activists of other political outfits, especially members of the student-led National Citizen Party, creating a risk of deterioration in law and order.
However, Dhaka Metropolitan Police ruled out any specific security threat but said they remained on high alert.
The Awami League has so far issued no notification on their online platforms, but some media reports suggest that the party activists were directed to hoist national and party flags at party offices and stage flash street processions.
According to media reports, the police arrested at least 103 Awami League leaders and activists in targeted operations across major cities, including the capital Dhaka till Saturday.
On June 2, the police in the southeastern port city of Chattogram arrested 68 leaders and activists, primarily charging them with plotting acts of sabotage and holding unauthorised street marches.
The Awami League is Bangladesh’s oldest political party, founded in 1949 and led its 1971 Liberation War against Pakistan.
The interim government banned Awami League from participating in the elections that were held in February.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party came to power and Tarique Rahman was sworn in as the prime minister of Bangladesh.
