Awami League awaits BNP’s green signal, Tareque Rahman has brought some relief

POBNEWS24, Dhaka, Feb 27, 2026 : The leaders and activists of the Awami League were in panic during the interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Many are in jail, many have fled, many are in hiding. Some have already been granted bail. Former Cox’s Bazar MP Abdur Rahman Badi and former Narayanganj mayor Selina Hayat Ivy have been granted bail by the High Court.
In May 2025, all political activities of the Awami League’s organs and associate organizations were banned. The party’s registration was also suspended. Due to this, the Awami League could not participate in the 13th National Parliament elections. Although it ran a ‘No Boat No Vote’ campaign before the elections, the banned Awami League was not seen offering any programs to prevent the elections. Rather, now that the political government came to power after the elections, they are in a state of ‘survival with bated breath’.
Immediately after the election, party leaders and activists tried to enter the offices in various districts and upazilas, including Dhaka. Some have already taken positions. Although there were incidents of counter-occupation, attacks and vandalism after the opening of offices in some places, the Awami League sees the ruling party BNP’s central position as ‘positive’. As a result, the party is now waiting for the government’s ‘green signal’. If the government ‘makes concessions’, they want to return to the path of positive politics.
The interim government after the mass uprising was in a tough position against the Awami League. In addition, Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party-NCPO are also strongly opposed to the Awami League returning to politics. There is discussion among the party leaders and activists that if BNP was not flexible in such a situation, it would not have been possible to open Awami League offices in various places. As a result, this largest party is now looking towards BNP.
It was learned from talking to leaders at various levels of the Awami League that the party is in favor of conducting organized politics instead of resorting to violence for the time being. In that case, there is a plan to restructure the party from the center to the grassroots if it gets a little ‘space’. It is almost certain that those who have destroyed the party’s image in the past will not be kept in leadership at any level. The old ones will be left behind and a clean image and young leaders will be brought in to lead.
Although Sheikh Hasina has the last word in the Awami League, an alternative leadership can also be considered considering the situation. However, even in such a situation, the responsibility of the party will remain in the hands of the ‘Sheikh family’. In that case, Sheikh Hasina can act as the main driving force of the party from behind. And some other leadership can come to the fore.
In a special interview given to the Qatar-based media outlet Al Jazeera in January, Sajeeb Wazed Joy said that his mother (Sheikh Hasina) may not return to active politics. Because, she wanted to retire. In the interview, Joy was asked, “You have indicated that your mother is planning to retire from politics? Does that mean that even if she can ever return to Bangladesh, she will not be in the political arena anymore?” Joy’s answer was, “No, she is old.” Mother is now elderly. This was her last term anyway. She wanted to retire.’ ‘So is this in a sense the end of the Hasina era?’ Joy replied, ‘Probably, yes.’
Although Awami League leaders are still publicly saying that Sheikh Hasina has the final say on the issue of party leadership. The party is still united under her leadership. They also believe that there is no alternative to Sheikh Hasina’s leadership in this difficult time for the Awami League. A leader of the Awami League editorial board told this correspondent on condition of anonymity, ‘We see the political government coming to power as a positive thing. There has also been a return of comfort among the leaders and activists. Now, if a situation arises to do politics, we will definitely think about a new leadership.’ He said that there will definitely be changes from the party’s center to the grassroots. The controversial ones will be eliminated. New leadership will be brought forward.’
When asked about the party president, he said that there is still no alternative to Sheikh Hasina in the Awami League. Considering the situation, she will take the right decision at the right time.
An Awami League organizing secretary told this correspondent that the leader (Sheikh Hasina) has already given instructions. She has asked everyone to open the party offices. Now that Dr. Yunus’ government has left, some relief has returned. So the leaders and activists are also going to the offices. The leaders and activists are also coming out of hiding. Many who are outside the country are preparing to return to the country. In response to a question, he further said, crores of our leaders, activists and supporters are in the country. We do not want to put them in danger. Therefore, there is no thought of giving any hasty program or anything like that for now. We are also monitoring the position of BNP.
Terming the steps taken by Tarique Rahman so far as quite ‘positive’, the leader said that not everything that the Awami League has done was right. However, it seems that the new Prime Minister wants to make his name in history by establishing democracy and rule of law in the country. If the situation is like this, the Awami League will also be encouraged to learn from history and do new politics.
The Awami League high command believes that the newly elected government will give importance to political stability. In that case, they also believe that the Awami League may be given a break. In addition, several leaders of the Awami League believe that there is room for comfort in the statements and activities of the Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman so far. Some of them said that the activities of Tarique Rahman and the BNP are positive. As a result, they are also optimistic that the ban on the party’s activities will be lifted very soon.