Dhaka, Mar 06 (V7N) – Following the mass uprising of July-August 2025, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has maintained a cautious approach toward the Awami League, emphasizing that any action against the party should remain within legal boundaries.

The July-August movement saw widespread attacks and shootings targeting students and the public. Many leaders and activists of the Awami League reportedly took to the streets against civilians, forcing party chief and other top leaders into hiding. After the interim government imposed a ban on the party, isolated rallies were occasionally attempted, but political activity largely remained suppressed.

With the BNP now in power, offices of the Awami League have reopened in several areas, signaling attempts to return to mainstream politics. However, the BNP central leadership considers this primarily a local issue. Party chairman’s advisor Moazzem Hossain Alal stated, “The activities of the Awami League are banned. Law enforcement agencies will ensure they follow the law. We will not stop them by force. Those who are legally banned should not break the law. BNP is careful to ensure blame falls on the responsible, not the powerless.”

Political analysts, however, argue that legal measures alone are insufficient to make the Awami League irrelevant. Professor Kazi Mahbubur Rahman of Dhaka University’s Political Science Department said, “Changes in law or ordinances affect the upper structure of society, but citizens evaluate politics based on how these changes impact their lives. The social consequences of July must be addressed to deal with the Awami League effectively.”

Analyst Dilara Chowdhury added, “People have witnessed these events digitally, and relatives of victims are protesting publicly. Without completing the justice system for those responsible for the violence and killings, the Awami League cannot re-establish itself politically in the country.”

Alal further emphasized that while the Awami League has not been entirely eliminated, those members who have not committed crimes or engaged in destructive activities will not be targeted. Since the fall of the government on August 5, 2014, top Awami League leaders have fled to countries including India, and only sporadic statements have appeared on social media; no visible presence has been recorded within the country.

This cautious approach by the BNP highlights a legal containment strategy, while analysts stress the need for social measures and justice to address the political vacuum and public sentiment created by the events of July-August 2025.

END/SMA/AJ