National Desk
Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam today said that all political parties must take a firm and unified stance against the “fallen fascist” Awami League, describing its recent actions as an “existential threat” to Bangladesh’s democratic future.
“It’s time for all political parties to take a clear position regarding Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League. The way she continues to speak — branding those who participated in the July Uprising as terrorists — is deeply alarming,” Shafiqul said.
He made the remarks while addressing a policy dialogue titled “Leveraging Technology to Reflect Citizens’ Aspirations in Election Manifestos,” organized by TRACE Consulting at Hotel InterContinental in Dhaka.
The event was also attended by BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General A.H.M. Hamidur Rahman Azad, Biplobi Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque, TRACE CEO Fuad M Khalid Hossain, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) President Mohammad Hatem, and DUCSU Vice President Sadik Kayem, among others.
Criticizing Sheikh Hasina’s recent remarks to international media, Shafiqul said, “Her rhetoric labeling the people of Bangladesh as terrorists poses a grave danger to our politics. When someone is branded a terrorist, it means they are being marked as expendable. Is she trying to return to power by declaring 180 million citizens as enemies?”
Referring to journalist Enayetullah Khan’s writings, he said, “Enayetullah Khan once wrote that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman made 65 million collaborators; now his daughter is calling 180 million people terrorists. It’s unthinkable.”
The press secretary said Bangladesh is currently facing an “existential political crisis” and urged all political parties to unite in defense of democracy.
Regarding the upcoming national election, Shafiqul reiterated that the government remains fully committed to holding the polls in the first half of February, emphasizing that there should be “no uncertainty” about the timeline.
He further stated that discussions surrounding governance reforms and the July Charter are part of a healthy democratic process. “Everywhere in the world, constitutional debates take time — sometimes decades. Consensus cannot be imposed overnight,” he said.
“If political parties cannot reach a conclusion, the Interim Government will take necessary decisions within its mandate to ensure that the election process remains free from uncertainty,” he added.
Shafiqul also noted that Bangladesh is going through a “fractured political situation” and that a democratic settlement inclusive of all political ideologies — right, left, or center — is essential. “Without democratic trust, there will be no positive international message, no foreign direct investment, and no job growth,” he warned.
The panel discussion was conducted by Professor Dr. Shahab Enam Khan of Jahangirnagar University’s Department of International Relations. Diplomats, election experts, civil society representatives, and members of major political parties were also present at the event.