On Friday, September 18, a virtual meeting of the Bangladesh Awami League Central Executive Committee was held. Presided over by Presidium Member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, the meeting featured Bangladesh Awami League President and Bangabandhu's daughter, Hon'ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who delivered guiding remarks as the chief guest.
In her speech as the chief guest, Sheikh Hasina stated that she has progressively exchanged views with leaders from 83 district branches and 160 electoral areas of the Awami League to learn about the actual situation of the country and the people through grassroots leaders and to observe the organizational state of the party.
Mentioning her experience from the exchanges, she said that every sector of the country is on the verge of destruction and the condition of the country is continuously worsening, so the country must be saved from this situation. Directing leaders responsible for organizational affairs, she said that wherever there is an organizational vacuum, priority in electing leadership must be given to those who have been tortured in various ways. Because the strength of the Awami League is the people and the grassroots leaders; we rely on them, and the Awami League does not place its trust in any other force.
She said that regardless of party or opinion, information on those who have been oppressed and tortured over the past two years must be collected and publicized to make the countrymen aware. At the same time, the masks of those who are oppressors and torturers must also be unmasked. Furthermore, she stated that many innocent military and civilian officials have been arrested through false cases, and she demanded their release.
In July and August 2024, members of law enforcement agencies tried their best to ensure the security of lives and properties. For this, many police members were killed, bodies were burned, and police stations were looted and set on fire. She expressed her resolve to ensure justice through a judicial inquiry into all killings.
Based on information received from across the country, she said that the country is now plunged into darkness, and indiscriminate killings, rapes, looting, extortion, and case-filing are ongoing in the country while the government acts as if it does not see, giving its party members the opportunity to commit injustices. Even though the government cannot provide rice to the people, it is able to drop corpses. To save the country from this situation, she reiterated her desire to return to the country. In this regard, she expressed surprise, saying that she is eager to return to the country, yet the government is creating obstacles. Instructing party leaders, the Awami League President said that no matter how much they torture us, no matter what death penalty is handed down, we must remain by the side of the people. We must build resistance together with the people.
Held under the moderation of Awami League Liberation War Affairs Secretary Adv. Mrinal Kanti Das, the meeting reviewed the overall situation of the country and featured speeches by General Secretary Obaidul Quader, Presidium Member Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya Bir Bikram, Freedom Fighter Adv. Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Joint General Secretary Agriculturist AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organizing Secretary SM Kamal Hossain, Sujit Roy Nandi, member Professor Mohammad Ali Arafat, and Deputy Secretary Raymond Areng, among others.
Other leaders of the Central Executive Committee were connected to the meeting. Awami League leaders, in their speeches, demanded the cancellation of the illegal tribunal and the illegal death sentences issued by the so-called ICT Tribunal against Awami League leaders including the daughter of Bangabandhu, Sheikh Hasina.
In the meeting, deep concern and anger were expressed over the prevailing socio-economic and political situation in the country, the transition to a democratic state system, the deterioration of oil, gas, water, electricity, and law and order situations, and the economic stalemate. It was noted that very recently, the so-called International Crimes Tribunal sentenced Bangladesh Awami League President Sheikh Hasina along with important party leaders Obaidul Quader, Agriculturist AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Freedom Fighter Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Professor Mohammad Ali Arafat, Bangladesh Awami Jubo League Chairman Professor Sheikh Fazle Shams Parosh, General Secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, Bangladesh Chhatra League President Saddam Hossain, and General Secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Inan, among others, to death on baseless and fabricated charges. Expressing a firm opinion in this meeting, it was stated that this so-called tribunal has no legal basis, and therefore such steps are rejected with disgust.
Following discussion, various demands and proposals were unanimously adopted at the meeting.
