Transparency International Bangladesh executive director Iftekharuzzaman on Tuesday said that Awami League could not expect to return to meaningful political participation without admitting its mistakes and expressing remorse, as the party had itself taken a clear position against the ongoing election process.
Responding to a journalist’s question at a briefing on the release of TI’s Corruption Perceptions Index report, Iftekharuzzaman questioned the narrative of ‘inclusive elections’ and said AL had already chosen to stay outside the electoral process.
‘The party has openly declared an anti-election position. If a party boycotts an election on its own, how can it then be included?’
He also challenged claims that Bangladesh lacked inclusive elections only now, asking why such concerns were not raised strongly over the past 16 years.
‘When we talk about inclusive elections today, we must ask what we did in the last 16 years,’ he said.
‘How many institutions or individuals had the courage to say at that time that elections were not inclusive?’
Iftekharuzzaman alleged that while the Awami League was officially boycotting the polls, it is still influencing the electoral environment indirectly.
‘They are trying to obstruct the election through violence and instability,’ he said. ‘This is happening through their supporters, agents at home and abroad, and in some cases with encouragement from sheltering countries.’
He further claimed that many Awami League voters had already cast their votes while in jail, raising questions about the party’s real stance on electoral participation.
At the grassroots level, he said, Awami League leaders and activists were not contesting elections under the party banner but were instead joining or campaigning for other political groups.
Iftekharuzzaman stressed that no one else could restore the Awami League’s political legitimacy except the party itself.
‘If the Awami League wants to re-establish itself politically, it must take responsibility for its actions,’ he said. ‘The current situation of the party is primarily the result of decisions taken by its own leadership.’
He added that public acceptance was still possible if the party showed accountability.
‘If they accept responsibility, express remorse, and say ‘we were wrong’, I think the people of this country will accept them,’ he said. ‘But whether they choose to do that or not is entirely up to them.’
