Hasina’s Return Announcement a ‘Political Gimmick’, Says Ishraque

Online Desk :

State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraque Hossain on Saturday described Sheikh Hasina’s announcement that she would return to Bangladesh in December next as a “political gimmick.”

“Sheikh Hasina is talking about returning to the country in December only to boost the morale of her party workers. It is nothing but a political stunt,” he said while speaking at a mock parliament debate in the city on accountability for the July killings.

The programme was organised by Debate for Democracy at the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC).

Ishraque alleged that members of the Awami family had fled the country even before the July uprising, describing it as an act of cowardice.

He claimed that the Awami League had made a strategic political mistake by moving towards what he described as fascism instead of democratic principles.

According to him, the Awami League suffered its “ultimate political, social and moral defeat” over the July mass killings and has also lost its credibility in the international arena.

The state minister said that although Awami League leaders and activists have largely remained out of public view since Aug 5, 2024, many allies of the party continue to hold positions in the administration, business community and cultural arena.

“Awami League has no political future. There is no scope for Awami League to get rehabilitated in politics,” he said.

Despite differences among anti-Awami League political forces, Ishraque urged all groups involved in the July mass uprising to remain united, warning that disunity could provide an opportunity for the Awami League to re-emerge.

“For the sake of democracy, anti-fascist unity is essential to protect the spirit of July,” he said.

Speaking as the chair of the event, Debate for Democracy Chairman Hasan Ahmmed Chowdhury Kiron said the July uprising was the outcome of a prolonged anti-government movement led by the BNP and other anti-fascist political parties, together with the united efforts of students and the people.

He said the July mass uprising represented not only the fall of the Awami League government but also the party’s political, social, moral and ideological defeat caused by the July mass killings. He also alleged that the ousted prime minister could not evade responsibility for the killings.

The mock parliament debate, titled “Awami League’s social defeat on account of the July killings is greater than its political defeat,” was won by debaters from the Bangladesh University of Business and Technology (BUBT), who defeated their counterparts from Gono University.

The judging panel included Prof Abu Muhammad Raish, Dr SM Morshed, journalists Arifuzzaman Mamun, Maidur Rahman Rubel and Zakir Hossain Liton.

Trophies, crests and certificates were distributed among the participating teams at the end of the programme.