Grassroots workers of Awami League blame top Ministers, former General Secretary for downfall of party

Awami League grassroots workers blame top leaders for the party's decline, citing unpopularity and misplaced priorities in the leadership.

As Bangladesh goes to the polls, the Awami League continues to remain underground while its workers carry out internal discussions dissecting the reasons behind the party’s downfall.

The party’s top leadership, including deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, remain in exile in various countries such as India and Belgium, its grassroots leaders mince no words while examining the reasons that led to the overthrow of the party in the 2024 uprising.

Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel and Hasan Mahmud, who were Ministers in the Sheikh Hasina Government, addressed press conferences in Delhi in January, but Awami League workers who spoke to The Hindu here said that many of the Ministers and individuals who formed the coterie around Ms. Hasina lacked popularity and acceptance within the party.

Mohammed Nahid Akhtar Nahan, a mid-level leader of the Awami League in Rajshahi division, said that the party became internally weak with the passing away of Syed Ashraful Islam, who served as general secretary of the Awami League. Mr. Islam was the son of Syed Nazrul Islam, one of the four major leaders who were killed during the infamous ‘jail killing day’ on November 3, 1975. Mr. Nahan said that Mr. Islam had an impeccable reputation within the party and commitment to its founding principles.

After Mr. Islam died in 2019, Senior Minister Obaidul Quader became the General Secretary. “Obaidul Quader and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan were not popular. They wielded power and took important decisions, but the party did not benefit organisationally. People from outside were brought into the party because they were big businessmen, and grassroots organisers were mistreated or downgraded, and voicing frank opinion was discouraged,” said Mr. Nahan.

He further shared that while several top leaders of the Awami League fled the country, it was the mid- and lower-level workers who had to face the brunt of popular anger. He claimed that his family home in Rajshahi was attacked in July-August 2024 and that ever since, he and his family members have been living in Dhaka as the large urban spread of the city gives them some sense of security.