The Crime Desk: Home Affairs Adviser Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain asked the Awami League to form a party with a new face. He also said that they will be helped by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The adviser told reporters after a meeting with traditional religious leaders at the secretariat on Monday (August 12).
The Home Advisor said, I am telling the political parties that you fix them (violence against minorities) in your areas. If we are counting seatwise, you know very well that I am not a new guy. You have been with me for the last five years. I will make you that constancy so that there is no election at all. I still hold influence in the Election Commission.
Sakhawat Hussain said, Please don’t push the country into anarchy, including the recently defunct party (Awami League). You have a party. We will help you from the Ministry of Home Affairs. You party with new faces, with new promises, and hopefully with the Political Party Act.
He said the Awami League was once a secularist party of the middle class. When the Muslim League was there, it was upper class. What a great group of people! There is no doubt about the one who made this country independent. No one should have doubts. In the name of him (Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman), the liberation war was fought and freedom was achieved. That party will collapse like that. People are hiding; what do you know if you find them again?
I give them hope and promise—you organize your party; no one has banned your party. Banning a group is pointless if it is not that kind of militant. Banning any political party is very bad culture. Political parties are banned for political gain.
Regarding whether the ban on Jamaat will be lifted or not, he said, it is the work of the Law Ministry. The Law Ministry has sent the decision to the Home Ministry for gazette notification. Why are you asking me instead of the person you are supposed to ask?
When asked whether there will be a holiday on August 15 or not, the advisor said, I cannot give any decision about it. It is the work of the cabinet. I will discuss it in the cabinet.
