Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed today said that the Awami League has suffered a complete political downfall, claiming the party has been “destroyed” and is now “buried in Delhi.” He asserted that the AL will no longer be able to participate in Bangladesh’s political process.
He made the remarks at a discussion meeting of the July National Conference‑2026, marking the second anniversary of the July Revolution, held at the Bangladesh‑China Friendship Conference Center under the joint initiative of the “July 24 Martyrs’ Family Society” and “We Are July Fighters Central Executive Committee.”
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was the chief guest at the event.
Salahuddin said, “The UN report mentions 14,000 cases, but officially only 700 to 800 accounts are available. Hospitals could not preserve records of the martyrs; many were buried as unclaimed bodies. Today, we cannot return them to their relatives.”
He accused Sheikh Hasina of failing to apologise for the killings, saying, “They are labelling the July fighters as criminals, calling the mass uprising militancy. Their state power was seized through militancy. There is nothing more shameful.”
“The Awami League has been politically destroyed. It has been buried in Delhi and will never be able to do politics in Bangladesh again,” he added.
AL must face trial
The home minister said everyone demanded the trial of the Awami League as a political party. “The investigation is ongoing. Very soon, it will be taken to trial. The law has been amended under Article 47 of the Constitution, and provisions in the Anti‑Terrorism Act and ICT Act allow political parties to be tried.”
He warned against exploiting the spirit of the July Revolution for political gain. “Those who organise groups to profit from July will face consequences. History has shown that.”
Referring to the AL’s past, he said, “Those who used to sell the spirit of the 1971 Liberation War are sitting in Delhi today selling their spirit. The people of Bangladesh overthrew them. We will preserve the history and memory of the July 24 mass uprising.”
Salahuddin also recalled his exile alongside Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, saying it was crucial for the success of the July uprising.
Status of genocide trial
The home minister said five genocide and crimes against humanity cases have already been decided, 27 are under trial, and 72 are nearing completion of investigation. He noted that the latest verdict against Hasanul Haque Inu, who was sentenced to 10 years, is being appealed for a harsher punishment.
Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni chaired the meeting. Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman, Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher, Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan, State Minister Ishraq Hossain, and Additional Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Atiqur Rahman Rumon also spoke.
Family members of martyrs, including Abu Hossain (brother of Abu Sayed), Abul Hossain (father of Shahriar Hossain Alvi), Fatematuzzohra (mother of Abdullah bin Zahid), Shafiul Alam (father of Wasim Akram), and Abdur Rab Mia (father of Miraj Hossain), commemorated the children martyred in the July Revolution.
