Bangladesh’s Awami League has started reestablishing its political presence in the country after the recent parliamentary elections, reopening over a dozen party offices in the last two weeks. Party supporters gathered outside some locations, raising slogans instead of formally unlocking the premises, indicating an effort to regain momentum on the ground.
According to reports from multiple party sources in Bangladesh’s leading daily ‘Prothom Alo,’ the Awami League is testing the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) stance led by Tarique Rahman through these actions. The party is also evaluating whether the government will hinder the bail and release of its detained leaders and activists.
There is a faction within the Awami League advocating for a cautious approach to reopening offices or resuming visible activities, as they perceive the BNP to be more accommodating towards them compared to the previous Muhammad Yunus-led interim government. Hastening the party’s reactivation may potentially increase political pressure on the BNP, as per some party leaders.
Opposition parties in parliament, including Jamaat-e-Islami and National Citizen Party, could raise concerns, leading the ruling BNP government to adopt a stricter stance against the Awami League, as reported by Prothom Alo. Recent activities include female wing leaders of Awami League, Jubo Mohila League, gathering outside the political office of Awami League president Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi, displaying national symbols and slogans.
Since the February 12 election, district and metropolitan offices of Awami League have been reopened at 12 locations, with seven to eight offices at Upazila and union levels also unlocked. However, some locations witnessed torn-down party banners. These developments follow the past closure of party offices across Dhaka and the country under the previous Yunus-led interim government post the ousting of the Hasina-led Awami League government in 2024, leading to incidents of arson, vandalism, and looting.
Analysts suggest that the Awami League is currently pursuing a dual-track strategy, maintaining a limited ground presence while gauging the government’s response. The government’s decisions on office reopening and bail issuance may dictate the level of political freedom or constraints faced by the party, as highlighted by Prothom Alo.
