Dhaka, March 28 (NationPress) Former minister of Bangladesh and prominent Awami League figure, Mohammad Ali Arafat, has urged for the swift abolishment of the ban imposed on his party, arguing that this action is crucial for reinstating political diversity and preserving democratic values.

Arafat criticized the February 12 parliamentary elections in Bangladesh, dubbing them "pre-arranged and manipulated" and devoid of true democratic legitimacy.

In a recent post on social media platform X, Arafat illustrated his point by stating: "To provide context, consider an election in the UK without the Labour Party or the Conservative Party—would you deem that a legitimate election? Likewise, in the United States, an election without either the Republican or Democratic Party raises similar questions about its authenticity."

“When one party is unlawfully banned or excluded from the electoral process, can such an election genuinely be classified as free and fair? This is precisely what transpired in Bangladesh on February 12, 2026,” he asserted.

Arafat further contended that the Awami League, one of the primary political entities in Bangladesh, was illegally prohibited by the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, effectively disenfranchising millions of voters by barring them from participating in the election.

He pointed out that the ongoing ban on the Awami League stifles its political activities, asserting that the right to vote was denied in the election, while rights to assembly, expression, and free speech have been persistently curtailed in Bangladesh.

Expressing alarm over the continuing repression of the party, Arafat highlighted that numerous Awami League leaders and grassroots members are being subjected to fabricated murder and other criminal allegations, leading to widespread imprisonment.

“Many individuals are unjustly denied bail, and even when granted, they often face re-arrest at the jail gates, a clear abuse of power. This systematic harassment is not just unfair but also a calculated effort to silence dissenting voices and undermine democratic norms,” he remarked.

Arafat reiterated the Awami League's unwavering stance on achieving justice for those affected during the July–August 2024 unrest, calling for unbiased investigations and accountability.

However, he accused the previous Yunus-led administration of exploiting the July–August events "as a political weapon, using them to falsely implicate Awami League leaders and activists in murder cases to suppress them" instead of pursuing genuine accountability.

Referring to a UN investigative report, Arafat noted that approximately 1,400 lives were lost during the 2024 unrest, while opposition parties have inflated this figure to 2,000 in their "political narratives." He asserted that around 800 verified victim names have been documented from the July–August turmoil.

“No comprehensive investigation has taken place to ascertain how these individuals lost their lives or who was accountable. Instead, political narratives continue to circulate, aiming to shift all blame onto the Awami League government at that time,” Arafat stated.

Claiming that the current scenario in Bangladesh significantly deviates from any credible standards of democracy, human rights, or rule of law, the Awami League leader emphasized, “The global community must not remain silent; urgent action is required to confront and halt this oppression.”