A crucial meeting of the central working committee of the Bangladesh Awami League was held on Tuesday morning to assess the country’s post-election political situation and determine the party’s next course of action. The meeting took place under strict confidentiality at the residence of a presidium member in the capital.
Party President and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joined the meeting virtually from Delhi, where she is currently staying. Addressing senior leaders, she delivered a clear message: “Prepare yourselves mentally and otherwise. Everyone must return to the country. We have to take to the field.”
According to party sources, all members of the working committee spoke during the session. Several influential leaders who are not members of the committee were also present and shared their views on future strategies. Leaders briefed the party chief on the political climate and grassroots conditions in their respective constituencies.
A key focus of the meeting was the recently concluded national election. Sheikh Hasina described the vote as a “farce and a staged drama,” claiming that citizens had widely responded to the Awami League’s call to boycott the polls. She questioned the Election Commission’s reported 60 percent voter turnout, saying the figure was unrealistic.
The Awami League chief also criticized what she termed the “double standards” of some domestic and international observers. “Several observers praised the election while in Bangladesh, only to return home and report that it was a staged event,” she said. She instructed party leaders not to rely on such “contradictory voices” but instead to present clear evidence to the public explaining why the election was flawed.
During the meeting, some leaders raised concerns about the ongoing restrictions on the party’s political activities. In response, Sheikh Hasina asserted that the ban was entirely unlawful. She argued that the party had committed no offense that would justify restrictions under anti-terrorism laws. She also maintained that the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus was itself illegitimate, and therefore its directives lacked legal validity.
Expressing hope that the current authorities would soon withdraw what she called an “illegal ban,” Sheikh Hasina warned that the Awami League would announce street programs if the restrictions were not lifted.
Her call for leaders to return home and prepare for action has fueled speculation within party circles that a shift in the political environment may be imminent. Many believe the party is positioning itself for a renewed and active presence in Bangladesh’s political arena.
