Glorious History and Current Context of Awami League

Opinion

Bangladesh Awami League is an inseparable name in the politics of Bangladesh. The main objective of the establishment of Awami League was to ensure the self-governance, language struggle, non-communalism, democracy and civil rights of the Bengali nation. Through the language movement, the united front movement, the “six-point” demand and other movements, the Awami League, under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, organized the political aspirations of the Bengali nation and prepared for the path of independence.

The Awami League played an important and leading role in the 1971 Liberation War. But four years after the country’s independence, the defeated forces of the Liberation War killed Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib and his family and seized control of Bangladesh. After August 1975, political conflicts, military rule, opposition movements, political repression – all of these became major challenges for the party and the nation.

Through many ups and downs, Bangladesh has once again emerged into the light. Under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina, the Awami League government continued its activities in principle with the conviction of modernizing Bangladesh. Under the able leadership of Sheikh Hasina, the country has achieved extensive socio-economic development through the implementation of major projects in infrastructure development, economic development, education and other sectors.

But suddenly a storm of domestic and foreign conspiracies came. The anti-liberation forces once again confused and destabilized the country. The current illegal government has failed to transform the country into a functioning state through killings, terrorism, oppression of minorities, lack of justice and suppression of democratic rights. The protests of the general public have been unjustly suppressed through the repressive policies of this government.

Since last August, the Awami League has been subjected to terrible political repression. Yet the party’s grassroots leaders and activists are scattered everywhere and eager for struggle. On the one hand, they are facing the vindictive activities of the current government, and on the other hand, they are facing danger due to the weakness of the leadership. The field-level leaders and activists are facing mental stress amid lawsuits, arrests and financial crisis, but there is no strong organization to stand by them. Unfortunately, the central leadership is practically invisible or inactive.

Apparently, the glorious history of the Awami League cannot support the current leadership. Many of the current leadership have gained power solely on the basis of loyalty; political foresight, organization management, and accountability to the people have not been their main characteristics. As a result, “loyalty” has taken precedence in the leadership seat, not “ideals”. In the last few years, a culture of “guardianship” was created among the leaders, which could not penetrate the grassroots. Yet today, in the face of this great crisis, grassroots leaders and activists are vocal in protesting against the government’s oppression. They are ready for the movement, but due to lack of direction, they are unable to take effective steps. This is a dangerous reality for the Awami League.

The Awami League is also under increasing pressure at the international level. Human rights organizations, diplomatic circles, and the media have cast doubt on the Awami League’s central leadership’s effective communication, presence, and discussions due to the democratic crisis in Bangladesh.

Some steps are essential to overcome this situation, such as:

• Providing minimum security and legal support to field workers;
• Creating rapid decision-making capacity by decentralizing central leadership;
• Creating opportunities for new generation leadership development;
• Rebuilding the party’s global acceptance by increasing international communication;
• Not to recapture power, but to outline an alternative future through economics, education, human rights, and technology.

Today, the Awami League faces a historic question—will the Awami League be able to become the party of the people like in its glorious past, or will it remain just a party clinging to power? The decisions within the party will determine the political future of Bangladesh.

–Ejaz Mamun
Columnist