In a bombshell Facebook post late on Thursday night (Mar. 20) that instantly went viral, Hasnat Abdullah, one of the key leaders of the uprising that overthrew Sheikh Hasina and now the chief organiser (South) of the newly-formed National Citizens Party (NCP), alleged that under the stewardship of India, a plot is being hatched to rehabilitate the Awami League.

In the post, Hasnat divulged details of a key meeting held at the Cantonment on March 11, between himself and two others from NCP with presumably military leadership, where a proposal was put forward to them to bring back the AL to mainstream politics. He wrote:

"On 11 March, at 2:30pm, this plan was presented to me and two others at the Cantonment. It was proposed that in exchange for negotiated seat sharing (at the next election), we should accept this offer. We were told that the same proposal was put forward to multiple political parties - and, subject to certain conditions, they had agreed to the rehabilitation of the Awami League. It was suggested that having multiple opposition parties alongside a weak Awami League would be better than just one opposition party. As a result, over the past two days, you will notice that many politicians in the media have been speaking in favour of the Awami League."

He said the move was being orchestrated by India, and the plan was to have ex-MP Saber Hossain Chowdhury, ex-speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, and ex-mayor of Dhaka South Fazle Noor Taposh as the faces of what would amount to a 'Refined Awami League'.

Hasnat continued, "We were further told that from April-May onwards, this 'Refined Awami League,' would start admitting to the crimes of the Sheikh family, reject Hasina, and promise to reestablish the Awami League of Bangabandhu in front of the public."

Hasnat said they immediately rejected the proposal and informed their interlocutors that instead of rehabilitating the Awami League, they should be working towards bringing them to justice.

"In response, we were told that if we object to the return of the Awami League, we would be responsible for the crisis it creates in the country, and that 'Awami League must come back,'" he continued.

Hasnat further wrote, "At one stage of the discussion, I asked, 'How can you forgive a party that has not yet apologised or confessed to its crimes?' Angrily, the other side responded, 'You people know nothing. You lack wisdom and experience. We have been in this service for at least forty years, longer than you've been alive. Moreover, without the Awami League, there can be no 'inclusive' election.'"

Hasnat said they didn't compromise, instead telling the other party "There can be no inclusivity with the Awami League. If the Awami League is to return, it will be over our dead bodies. If an attempt is made to bring back the Awami League, you will be responsible for the crisis that will arise."

The meeting then wrapped up with the issue left unresolved.

Hasnat went on to write that during the July-August movement last year, they also received various proposals but instead of listening to any of them, they put their faith in the people, and with their support, brought about the downfall of Awami League.

He said resisting any pressure from the Cantonment, they would like to do so again today, on the question of banning Awami League, on which he said there could be no compromise.

"Today, if I again have your support, if I find you by my side on the streets, we will once again be able to reject this Indian conspiracy of rehabilitating the Awami League," he wrote.

Hasnat's post sparked an immediate reaction, as a group of Dhaka University students held a procession on the campus in the small hours of Friday, demanding the ban of Awami League. They also announced to reconvene in front of the Raju Sculpture on Friday afternoon to press home their demand.

Meanwhile Jamaat e Islami chief Dr ShafIqur Rahman, in an early morning post on Friday on his verified Facebook page, seemed to add his voice to Hasnat's in this regard for the first time, with a statement titled "The public will not accept the rehabilitation of the Awami League."

Without calling directly for the Awami League to be banned, he emphasised bringing them to justice as the number one priority in front of the nation right now.

He urged all sides to remain united in this goal.

Hasnat's post, deciding to come out into the open with the details of the meeting on March 11, would seem to have been sparked by comments made by the chief adviser, Dr Muhammad Yunus, that his government has no plans to ban the Awami League, made during a meeting with a delegation from the International Crisis Group.

An hour before the post described above, Hasnat had posted a much shorter message directly calling out the chief adviser. He wrote: "Dr Yunus, Awami League was already banned on August 5. No use opening the AL chapter again on Cantonment and India's prescription."

In the meeting with Crisis Group, Yunus said his government is committed to holding elections on schedule, refusing to delay the vote for any demands. Speaking with the delegation led by Dr. Comfort Ero, president of the International Crisis Group, Yunus confirmed that the government has set two possible timelines for the elections. He assured the group the dates would not change.

Yunus explained that if political parties seek a limited number of reforms prior to elections, then the elections will be held in December. If a larger reform package is desired, then elections will take place by June next year.

"We have no reason to change the election dates," he added, emphasising that the upcoming elections will be free and fair.

The AL question

Regarding the Awami League, Yunus stated that the interim Government had no plan to ban the party, but individuals within its leadership accused of crimes, including murder and crimes against humanity, will be tried in Bangladesh's courts.

He also said the government has not ruled out referring Awami League leaders to the International Criminal Court in The Hague following a UN fact-finding mission that reported potential crimes during the July uprising. "It is very much on the table," Prof Yunus said.

The chief adviser also shared that the Consensus Building Commission began talks with political parties on Thursday (Mar. 20). He said there are plans to finalise and sign the July Charter, which will guide the government's policies.

The International Crisis Group officials praised the arrest of Rohingya insurgent leader Ataullah this week, calling it a sign of the Interim government's commitment to peace and stability in the refugee camps. They also emphasised the need for increased engagement with the Arakan Army, which controls much of Rakhine State in Myanmar.

Prof Yunus noted that Dhaka is working to mobilise aid for Rohingya refugees and hopes the upcoming special UN conference on the Rohingya crisis will draw global attention to the issue.

Dr Ero expressed her group's support for Bangladesh in countering misinformation targeting the country and its Interim government. Dr Yunus concluded by expressing Bangladesh's desire for strong relations with India, though he lamented that much of the misinformation campaign against Bangladesh has originated from Indian media.

But the Yunus administration may encounter further turbulence in the days ahead, given the uncompromising position taken by the driving force behind last summer's monumental events that rocked the country, on the question of the Awami League. To be fair, the Awami League hasn't helped matters with their stubborn refusal to own up to their crimes, their absolute subservience to Sheikh Hasina, and their total disrespect for the July-August martyrs, to the point of spreading lies about them and the circumstances of their deaths. Whether it is settled on the streets, or obscure drawing rooms, will be the thing to watch in the days ahead.