BNP senior leader Abdul Moyeen Khan on Friday said it was up to the government and the Election Commission to decide whether the Awami League should be banned or barred from contesting the election, reports UNB.
"Whether the Awami League will be banned or not is not a matter for the BNP to decide. It is up to the government and the Election Commission to make that decision," he said.
Moyeen made the remarks while speaking to reporters after a six-member delegation from the United States-based Carter Center held a meeting with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at the BNP Chairperson's office in Gulshan.
He said the BNP has no authority to decide on banning the Awami League. "Our Secretary General has already said it is a matter for the people to decide. The people will determine who can participate in the election."
The BNP leader also questioned whether the Awami League truly believes in democracy and elections. "The Awami League needs to clarify this," he said.
He pointed out that nine months have passed, yet not a single Awami League leader has expressed any remorse for the oppression inflicted on the people over the past 15 years, for the authoritarian manner in which the country was governed, and for the repression carried out.
Moyeen also noted that no Awami League leader has acknowledged their mistakes or apologised to the people of Bangladesh. "So, we should not be asked whether the Awami League should be banned or allowed to contest the election. The 18 crore people of this country will answer that question."
He said the country was freed from the Awami League's autocratic rule through a mass movement and struggle for the restoration of democracy.
"We want to move beyond the current interim situation and return to a democratic process through a free and fair election, for the overall welfare of the people," he said.
Meanwhile, the interim government said it was giving due importance to the demand raised by various political parties, organisations, and members of the public to ban the Awami League over allegations of dictatorship and terrorist activities.
"The government has already established contact with political parties in this regard and will discuss the matter with them before making a decision," said a statement issued by the Chief Adviser's press wing.
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