NCP’s Hasnat Abdullah Declares Awami League’s Political End Amid Rising Protests
Hasnat Abdullah, Chief Organizer for the southern region of the National Citizen Party (NCP), has declared that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League “has died” politically in Bangladesh, amid the ongoing student and public anti-discrimination protests. Speaking on Saturday (April 3) at a massive Hefazat-e-Islam rally held at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka, Abdullah claimed the party’s symbolic “funeral” had been held in Delhi.
The rally, which drew significant crowds, centered on four key demands — most notably, the cancellation of the proposed Commission for the Reform of Women’s Rights, which conservative groups strongly oppose. Addressing the gathering, Abdullah stated, “The people of Bangladesh have shown a red card to Hasina and the rehabilitation of the Awami League on August 5. On that day, we made it clear—there will be no rehabilitation of the Awami League on this land.”
This fiery declaration comes at a time when anti-government sentiments are rising across the country, fueled by youth and civil society protests against discrimination, governance failures, and perceived authoritarianism. The mention of Delhi in Abdullah’s remarks also hints at the opposition’s criticism of foreign involvement in Bangladesh’s political affairs, particularly concerning India’s perceived support of the ruling party.
Political analysts suggest that these statements reflect a growing confidence among opposition forces who see the Awami League’s legitimacy weakening under mounting domestic and international scrutiny. While the ruling party has so far dismissed such claims, the rhetoric on Bangladesh’s streets is signaling a volatile political season ahead.