Student leaders become active after Hasnat’s status 

Hasnat Abdullah, an organizer of the National Citizens Party (NCP) for the southern region, has alleged that the military administration is creating a pressure to bring the Awami League, which was ousted from power in a student uprising, back into politics.

He wrote on Facebook at around 2:00am, “A proposal was pitched to three including him at around 2:30pm on March 11 ‘by the cantonment’ to rehabilitate the Awami League in the name of ‘Refined Awami League’.

One of the most visible faces of the July uprising, Hasnat claimed, “We were asked to accept this proposal in exchange for a seat-sharing agreement.”

He alleged that a meeting was held in the cantonment. During this meeting, attended by him and two others, they were presented with a proposal to accept a seat-sharing agreement in exchange for endorsing the plan.

In his post, he claimed that multiple political parties had conditionally agreed to the rehabilitation of the Awami League.

Hasnat claimed, "Those who will be part of the 'Refined Awami League' will, from April-May, start acknowledging the crimes of the Sheikh family, reject Hasina, and pledge to restore the original Awami League under Bangabandhu’s ideals."

He further added, "When we opposed this proposal, we were warned that obstructing the return of the Awami League would result in a national crisis, and we would be held responsible for it. The message was clear: Awami League must come back."

He said the offer was immediately rejected with the assertion that efforts should be made to prosecute the Awami League rather than rehabilitating them.

Hasnat’s post has sparked a storm of reactions on social media, with mixed opinions emerging. Student leaders protested the plan.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Ministry Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan said there is no uncertainty about the timing of national election.  

The Adviser made the remark in a post on his verified Facebook account on Friday (March 21).  

“Don't create a rift in the unity of the people on the issue of banning the Awami League by saying that the election will be postponed and uncertainty will arise,” Asif wrote. 

“Honorable Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has clearly and repeatedly said that the election will be held between December and February. I want to assure you that the government will keep this promise. So there is no uncertainty about the election”, he said.

He also wrote, “The Awami League is recognised as a genocidal party not only nationally but also internationally through the UN report.”