Home Minister Salah Uddin Ahmed on Saturday said the Awami League (AL) would no longer be able to engage in politics in Bangladesh and would soon face trial as a political party.
He made the remarks while addressing the July National Conference-2026 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center in Agargaon, marking the second anniversary of the July Revolution.
The home minister urged political parties and organisations not to use the spirit of the July movement for political gain.
"I request everyone organising this programme that none of us should do business with the spirit of July," he said.
He warned that those seeking political advantage by invoking the July Revolution would eventually face the consequences.
Drawing a comparison with the Awami League, Salah Uddin said those who had once used the spirit of the 1971 Liberation War for political purposes were ultimately rejected by the
people.
"The people have overthrown them. Using the spirit of any movement for political business is never good," he said.
Recalling the July movement, the minister said the government was working according to its plan and urged people to remain patient.
He also described what he called the BNP's behind-the-scenes role during the movement.
According to Salah Uddin, both he and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman were in exile at the time and helped organise support for the movement from abroad. He claimed BNP leaders and activists maintained contact with organisers, offered moral support and assisted the movement while remaining behind the scenes.
He said Tarique Rahman declared on July 16 that the only solution was the resignation of what he described as the dictatorial government. Although some groups wanted to keep the movement free from political demands, the BNP believed that a discrimination-free Bangladesh could not be achieved without a change in government, he added.
The home minister said the country achieved victory on August 5 through the sacrifices of those who took part in the uprising.
Referring to casualties, Salah Uddin claimed that while a UN report mentioned around 1,400 deaths, official records and newspaper surveys documented between 700 and 800 fatalities. He alleged that many hospital records had disappeared and some victims had been buried as unidentified bodies, making it difficult for families to trace their graves.
He also alleged that former prime minister Sheikh Hasina had shown no remorse over the killings and had described the July movement as a militant uprising.
Salah Uddin further claimed that fugitive Awami League leaders and activists were conspiring against the country's democratic government from abroad.
"The Awami League has been buried politically. Soon, it will be brought to trial as a political party for terrorist activities," he said.
He added that an investigation into trying the Awami League as a political party was underway.
"God willing, the Awami League will soon be brought to trial as a political party," he said.
