Amid ongoing protests in Dhaka calling for a ban on the ruling Awami League, senior BNP leader Abdul Moyeen Khan has stated that it is the people—not the BNP—who hold the authority to determine the party’s political future.
Speaking at a media briefing on Friday following a meeting between BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and representatives from the US-based Carter Center, Khan emphasized that the decision to ban any political party does not lie with the BNP.
“It is not for the BNP to decide whether the Awami League should be banned. That decision rests with the Election Commission or the government,” Khan said in response to a journalist’s question. “Our position is clear: it’s the people who will decide who should contest in elections.”
While acknowledging that some political groups have demanded a ban on the Awami League, Khan distanced the BNP from such calls, reinforcing that public opinion is paramount.
Turning the focus onto the Awami League, Khan questioned whether the ruling party genuinely supports democratic principles. “Why not ask the Awami League if they truly want to participate in free and fair elections?” he asked.
He also accused the Awami League of authoritarian governance over the past 15 years, alleging corruption and repression. “Have any of their leaders admitted to misrule or offered an apology to the nation? The people of Bangladesh already know the answer,” he added.
The remarks come as political tensions escalate ahead of the next national election, with opposition groups increasing pressure on the Awami League government over allegations of electoral manipulation and abuse of power.
