Bangladesh: The Awami League (AL); its leaders; subgroups, including its youth wing; activities; and treatment of AL supporters by the authorities (2004-2006)

Background

The Bangladesh Awami League (AL) is a political party that was established in 1949 (Europa World Year Book 2005 2005, 717; Political Parties of the World Jan. 2005, 48; Factiva 24 Jan. 2006) to "promote Bengali interests" (ibid.). The party was reportedly "a major force" in the country's push for independence from Pakistan, which was achieved in 1971 (Political Handbook of the World: 2005-2006 Dec. 2005, 87 and 92; Political Parties of the World Jan. 2005, 48). Led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman [also called "Sheikh Mujib"] (ibid.; Factiva 24 Jan. 2006), the AL held power from 1971 to 1975 (Political Parties of the World Jan. 2005, 48). In 1975, the Bangladesh military overthrew the AL government and killed Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (ibid.; see also Factiva 24 Jan. 2006).

The AL returned to power following Bangladesh's June 1996 elections (Political Handbook of the World: 2005-2006 Dec. 2005, 92; Freedom House 2005); however, the party was defeated during the country's 2001 elections, won by the Bangladesh National Party (BNP) (ibid.; Factiva 24 Jan. 2006). As of June 2006, the AL was the country's main opposition party (BBC 20 June 2006). The country's next elections are expected to take place by the end of January 2007 (ibid.; Dow Jones International News 3 Feb. 2006; see also Reuters 29 Apr. 2006).

According to the Europa World Year Book 2005, the AL has a membership of approximately 1,025,000 (2005, 717). It is unclear whether this figure includes the membership of the various subgroups of the political party.

Leadership

Sheikh Hasina Wajed [also referred to as "Sheikh Hasina"] is the president of the Awami League (Europa World Year Book 2005 2005, 717; Political Parties of the World Jan. 2005, 48; Political Handbook of the World: 2005-2006 Dec. 2005, 92) and the leader of the opposition in parliament (UNB 22 June 2006; ibid. 28 Mar. 2006). According to the Awami League Website, Saber Hossain Chowdhury is the political secretary to the AL president (Bangladesh Awami League n.d.). Sources identify the party's general secretary as Abdul Jalil (ibid.; Reuters 29 Apr. 2006; Dow Jones International News 3 Feb. 2006), who is also an AL member of parliament (MP) (LCG Bangladesh n.d.).

For a complete listing of Awami League MPs and their districts, please consult the Local Consultative Groups (LCG) Bangladesh Website at .

According to a news article by the United News of Bangladesh, a Dhaka-based news service, the political party also has unit leaders in the United Kingdom, including Samsuddin Khan, Abul Hossain, M.A. Gani and Sultan Mahmud Sharif (UNB 28 Mar. 2006).

Subgroups

Among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate, several subgroups of the Awami League were identified.

The Bangladesh Awami Jubo [also spelled "Juba"] League (BAJL) is the youth wing of the Awami League (Bangladesh Awami League 21 May 2006a; BBC 30 Nov. 2005). According to a 30 November 2005 BBC news article, the president of the BAJL is Mohiuddin Ahmed Mohi. Other sources consulted identify Jahangir Kabir Nanak as the chairman of the BAJL (BAJL n.d.; UNB 15 May 2006; BBC 30 Nov. 2005) and Mirza Azam as the youth wing's general secretary (ibid.; BAJL n.d.; Bangladesh Awami League 21 May 2006b). According to the BAJL Website, Dr. Emran Kabir is the organization's secretary of foreign affairs (N.d). Other BAJL leaders identified in a 21 May 2006 Bangladesh Awami League news release include Harunur Rashid, Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury, Mohammad Faruque Hossain, Mahbubur Rahman Hiron, Abdus Sattar Masud, Mamunur Rashid, Manjurul Alam Shaheen, Abul Bashar, Nurunnabi Chodhury Shaon and Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil (21 May 2006b).

The Mohila [also spelled "Mahila"] Awami League is the women's front of the AL (Bangladesh Awami League 21 Mar. 2006; UNB 8 Mar. 2006). Sources consulted name Ashrafunessa [also "Ashrafunnessa"] Mosharraf and Fazilatunessa [also "Fazilatunnessa"] Indira respectively as president and general secretary of the women's league (ibid.; Bangladesh Awami League 21 Mar. 2006).

The Bangladesh Chhatra League is the student wing of the Awami League (UNB 14 May 2006; ibid. 24 Sept. 2005). Sources consulted identify Liakat Shikdar as the organization's president (ibid.) and Nazrul Islam Babu as its general secretary (ibid.; Bangladesh Awami League 21 Mar. 2006).

Other subgroups of the Awami League referred to less frequently in the sources consulted by the Research Directorate include the following: the Jubo Mohila League, the youth women's league of the AL (AHRC 23 Feb. 2006); the Awami Shechchhasebak League, the volunteer wing of the AL (News From Bangladesh 3 Apr. 2005; The Daily Star 17 Apr. 2005); and the Sramik League, the workers' front of the AL (ibid. 8 May 2004).

Activities

Several sources consulted indicate that tensions have existed between the Awami League and the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) (HRW Jan. 2006; BBC 11 Apr. 2006; Factiva 24 Jan. 2006; Freedom House 2005). Sources suggest that the tension has stemmed from "personal animosity" between the parties' leaders rather than differences in ideology (BBC 11 Apr. 2006; Freedom House 2005).

Since the BNP came into power in 2001, the AL has refused to recognize its authority to rule (ibid.; Factiva 24 Jan. 2006) and has staged boycotts of parliament (ibid.; Global Insight Daily Analysis 6 Feb. 2006; Country Reports 2005 8 Mar. 2006, Sec. 3; Freedom House 2005; BBC 3 Oct. 2001). The AL has also organized demonstrations and rallies (Freedom House 2005; UNB 16 Sept. 2005; Dow Jones International News 3 Feb. 2006), as well as nation-wide strikes called hartals (ibid.; Bangladesh Awami League 4 July 2006; The Bangladesh Observer 14 Mar. 2006; The Daily Star 19 May 2005; Freedom House 2005), to put pressure on the BNP to step down (Freedom House 2005; Factiva 24 Jan. 2006; UNB 8 Mar. 2006). Demonstrations and/or strikes have sought to protest the killing of AL leaders (The Daily Star 19 May 2005; ibid. 29 Jan. 2005a; ibid. 8 May 2004; see also Bangladesh Awami League 4 July 2006), pressure the government to make electoral reforms before the country's next elections (US Fed News 20 Apr. 2006; BBC 20 June 2006; see also Global Insight Daily Analysis 6 Feb. 2006), and protest rising prices (AHRC 23 Feb. 2006).

According to 2005 and 2006 sources, the AL's various subgroups have also participated in hartals and demonstrations (The Bangladesh Observer 14 Mar. 2006; Bangladesh Awami League 21 Mar. 2006; AHRC 23 Feb. 2006). For example, in February 2006, the Awami Jubo Mohila League participated in an AL-led demonstration to pressure the government to make reforms to the constitution and the electoral system, and to demonstrate against rising prices (ibid.). In March 2006, the Awami Jubo League organized a nationwide hartal to protest the killing of one of its leaders (The Bangladesh Observer 14 Mar. 2006).

Treatment of Awami League Supporters

Several sources consulted indicate that AL supporters and leaders have been harassed, threatened and/or physically attacked (AHRC 9 May 2006; AI 18 Aug. 2005; HRW Jan. 2006; BBC 20 Feb. 2006; The Daily Star 29 Jan 2005b). Other sources report instances of torture and/or killings of AL members (Bangladesh Awami League 4 July 2006; AHRC 9 May 2006; HRW Jan. 2006; The Daily Star 29 Jan 2005a; ibid. 29 Jan. 2005b; Country Reports 2005 8 Mar. 2006, Sec.1).

The Daily Star, a Dhaka-based newspaper that describes itself as "independent" and "non-partisan" (n.d.), reports that in May 2004, Ahsanullah Master, an AL lawmaker, was killed at a rally in Tongi, after being "sprayed with bullets" (8 May 2004; The Daily Star 17 Apr. 2005; News From Bangladesh 3 Apr. 2005; AI 12 May 2004). A BNP youth wing leader reportedly organized the attack (The Daily Star 17 Apr. 2005). According to The Daily Star, a Dhaka court sentenced twenty-two people to death and six others to life imprisonment for their involvement in the killing (17 Apr. 2005).

In August 2004, a grenade attack at an AL rally in Dhaka killed approximately 20 people, including Ivy Rahman, the party's women's affairs secretary (Country Reports 2005 8 Mar. 2006, Sec.1; Political Parties of the World Jan. 2005, 49; see also Freedom House 2005). The attack was thought to be an assassination attempt on Sheikh Hasina Wajed, who spoke at the rally (HRW 26 Aug. 2004). According to Political Parties of the World, "Sheikh Hasina stated that 'hundreds' of AL supporters had been killed or tortured by the BNP-led government since 2001 and that the August 21 attack was a continuation of this policy" (Jan. 2005, 49).

On 27 January 2005, senior AL politician Shah Abu Mohammad Shamsul Kibria was killed in Habiganj in northeastern Bangladesh, along with four other people at an AL rally (AI 2006; Country Reports 2005 8 Mar. 2006, Sec.1). Police reportedly filed charges against several BNP leaders allegedly involved in the attack (ibid.).

In February 2006, Sheikh Yunnus Ali, an AL leader who had previously been targeted, lost his hand in a bomb attack in Khulna in southwestern Bangladesh (BBC 20 Feb. 2006).

Multiple sources report police actions against AL supporters. For example, police have allegedly assaulted supporters (AHRC 9 May 2006; ibid. 23 Feb. 2006) and used tear gas and batons on them at AL demonstrations (BBC 20 June 2006; US Fed News 20 Apr. 2006; Country Reports 2005 8 Mar. 2006, Sec.2.b; The Bangladesh Observer 14 Mar. 2006). They have also allegedly arrested AL activists at demonstrations (ibid.; The Daily Star 19 May 2005; AHRC 9 May 2006), as well as prior to such events (ibid.; BBC 19 Apr. 2006; Dow Jones International News 3 Feb. 2006). According to Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2005, the police and BNP supporters have also "disrupted the free movement of AL supporters" on their way to a rally (8 Mar. 2006, Sec. 2.b).

Amnesty International (AI) has released a public statement indicating that BNP members attacked and injured hundreds of AL supporters at AL gatherings held on 15 August 2005 (Aug. 2005). The statement further notes that

in an apparently discriminatory move, police have reportedly filed cases against a total of 1500 Awami League supporters, even though they have been the targets of the attacks (AI 18 Aug. 2005).

Country Reports 2005 indicates that, in July 2004, AL activist Samon Ahmed Majunder was unlawfully killed by the Rapid Action Batallion (RAB), a Bangladesh paramilitary group whose members come from various law enforcement agencies (8 Mar. 2006, Sec.1.a).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Amnesty International (AI). 2006. "Bangladesh." Amnesty International Report 2006. [Accessed 27 June 2006]
_____. 18 August 2005. "Bangladesh: Alleged Government Complicity in Physical Attacks Against Opposition Activists." (ASA 13/008/2005) [Accessed 27 June 2006]
_____. 12 May 2004. "Killed: Ahsanullah Master (M) Aged 54, Awami League Member of Parliament." (ASA 13/007/2004) [Accessed 27 June 2006]

Asia Human Rights Commission (AHRC). 9 May 2006. "Bangladesh: Protestors Beaten by the Police in Dhaka." (UA-152-2006) [Accessed 6 July 2006]
_____. 23 February 2006. "Bangladesh: Opposition Political Activists Beaten and Arrested by the Police During Demonstrations and Country-Wide Strike." (UA-070-2006) [Accessed 27 June 2006]

Bangladesh Awami Jubo League (BAJL). N.d. "Contact with Bangladesh Awami Jubo League." [Accessed 5 July 2006]

Bangladesh Awami League. 4 July 2006. "Countrywide Daylong Hartal Today." [Accessed 4 July 2006]
_____. 21 May 2006a. "Shutdown in Sylhet City Today to Protest Jubo League Leader Murder by JCD Men for Toll." [Accessed 27 June 2006]
_____. 21 May 2006b. "Jubo League's Call to Make Tomorrow's EC Ghera O Plan a Success." [Accessed 27 June 2006]
_____. 21 March 2006. "Government to Be Compelled to Concede to Reform Proposal: Abdul Jalil MP." [Accessed 5 July 2006]
_____. N.d. "Mailing Link." [Accessed 28 June 2006]

The Bangladesh Observer. 14 March 2006. "100 Hartal Activists Injured, Over 150 Arrested." [Accessed 6 July 2006]

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 20 June 2006. "Police Break Up Bangladesh March." [Accessed 27 June 2006]
_____. 19 April 2006. "Reports of 'Indiscriminate Arrests' as Bangladesh Opposition Plans Protest." (BBC Monitoring South Asia/Factiva)
_____. 11 April 2006. "Country Profile: Bangladesh." [Accessed 27 June 2006]
_____. 20 February 2006. "Bangladesh Politician 'Critical'." [Accessed 27 June 2006]
_____. 30 November 2005. "Bangladesh Opposition Holds Anti-Terror Rallies." (BBC Monitoring South Asia/Factiva)
_____. 3 October 2001. "Bangladesh Parliament Boycott." [Accessed 6 July 2006]

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2005. 8 March 2006. "Bangladesh." United States Department of State. [Accessed 27 June 2006]

The Daily Star [Dhaka]. 19 May 2005. "Hartal Passes Off Peacefully." [Accessed 6 July 2006]
_____. 17 April 2005. Chaitanya Chandra Halder, Shamim Ashraf and Shameem Mahmud. "22 to Walk Gallows for Killing Ahsanullah." [Accessed 6 July 2006]
_____. 29 January 2005a. Julfikar Ali Manik and Iqbal Siddiqee. "Clashes Mark Habiganj Hartal, No Arrest Yet." [Accessed 28 June 2006)
_____. 29 January 2005b. Mahfuz Anam. "One by One Opposition Leaders Are Being Killed." [Accessed 10 July 2006]
_____. 8 May 2004. "AL Lawmaker Gunned Down at Rally." [Accessed 6 July 2006]
_____. N.d. "Profile of The Daily Star." [Accessed 7 July 2006]

Dow Jones International News. 3 February 2006. "1,500 Activists Arrested in Bangladesh Before Protest." (Factiva)

Europa World Year Book 2005. 2005. Vol. 1. "Bangladesh." London: Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group.

Factiva. 24 January 2006. "Public Figures & Associates – Country Profile: Bangladesh." (Factiva)

Freedom House. 2005. "Bangladesh." Freedom in the World 2005. [Accessed 27 June 2006]

Global Insight Daily Analysis. 6 February 2006. Elizabeth Mills. "Opposition Ends Boycott of Bangladeshi Parliament, While Pursuing Protest Campaign." (Factiva)

Human Rights Watch (HRW). January 2006. "Country Summary – Bangladesh." [Accessed 5 July 2006]
_____. 26 August 2004. "Bangladesh: Probe Recent Attacks." [Accessed 21 July 2006]

Local Consultative Group (LCG) Bangladesh. N.d. "List of All MPs. " [Accessed 5 July 2006]

News From Bangladesh. 3 April 2005. "Ahsanulla Murderm – Accused Say They Are Victims of Harassment." [Accessed 6 July 2006]

Political Handbook of the World: 2005-2006. December 2005. "Bangladesh." Edited by Arthur S. Banks, Thomas C. Muller, and William R. Overstreet. Washington, DC: CQ Press.

Political Parties of the World. 6th ed. January 2005. "Bangladesh." Edited by Bogdan Szajkowski. London, UK: John Harper Publishing.

Reuters. 29 April 2006. Anis Ahmed. "Update 2 – Gridlock as Bangladesh Opposition Spurns Talks." (Factiva)

United News of Bangladesh (UNB) [Dhaka]. 22 June 2006. "Opposition Leader Sheikh Hasina Offers Fateha at Ajmer Sharif." (Factiva)
_____. 15 May 2006. "Juba Sangram Parishad Denies Having Ransacked over a Hundred Vehicles During May 9 Mayhem." (Factiva)
_____. 14 May 2006. "HC Grants Anticipatory Bails to 16 BCL Activists." (Factiva)
_____. 28 March 2006. "Hasina Urges Expatriates to Express Solidarity with Opposition for Realizing Their Demand." (Factiva)
_____. 8 March 2006. "AL Women Leaders Accuse Alliance Government of Repression on Women." (Factiva)
_____. 24 September 2005. "BCL Likely to Call Student Strike from October 3." (Factiva)
_____. 16 September 2005. "Government Has Failed to Maintain Law and Order: Says Abdul Jalil." (Factiva)

US Fed News. 20 April 2006. "VOA News: Bangladesh Police Attack Protesters in Capital." (Factiva)

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Attempts were made to contact the Bangladesh Awami League.

Internet sites, including: European Country of Origin Information Network (Ecoi.net),

United Kingdom Home Office, U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI).