No pressure to include Awami League in elections: Shafiqul Alam

Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam stated that no one is pressuring the interim government to allow the Awami League to participate in the upcoming elections.

"There is no pressure regarding the elections, and no one is asking to bring the Awami League to the polls," he said.

"Perhaps they would have if given the chance. But has the Awami League ever expressed regret or apologised? The whole world knows about the disappearances and murders they committed. Still, Awami League supporters will be able to vote this time."

He made these remarks during an interaction with journalists in Brahmanbaria on Friday afternoon.

Addressing concerns about potential fears surrounding the elections, Shafiqul Alam dismissed them as unfounded.

"Talks of election fears are mostly coming from YouTube and TikTok. Some people spread these rumours just to gain views. I consider such fears completely baseless," he said.

Referring to the Awami League, he added, "We saw what they are capable of last November. When their leader was sentenced, they called a strike beforehand. They can throw a few cocktails— they even targeted a church and a bus, setting one person on fire."

Earlier in the morning in Akhaura, while responding to questions from journalists, Shafiqul Alam commented on criticism of the government's stance in the upcoming referendum.

"Those criticising the referendum have little understanding," he said. "Governments around the world take positions in referendums—sometimes for 'yes,' sometimes for 'no.'"

He emphasised the interim government's support for reforms, "We stand for reforms. We must end misrule in the country. I urge people to vote 'yes' so that no more monsters like Sheikh Hasina emerge. To stop theft and fraud, vote 'yes.' You have seen how the previous government looted and siphoned off bank money—now the burden has fallen on the current administration."

Prior to these engagements, Shafiqul Alam visited the shrine of Kharampur Hazrat Shah Syed Ahmed Gechu Daraj Shah Pir Kolla (R.H.) in Akhaura, accompanied by Upazila Executive Officer Tapsi Rabeya, Akhaura Police Station OC Jabed-ul Islam, Assistant Commissioner (Land) Kafil Uddin Mahmud, and shrine committee leaders.

In the afternoon, he attended a view-exchange meeting at the Brahmanbaria Press Club auditorium, presided over by organisation president Jabed Rahim Bijon.

Speakers included General Secretary Md. Baharul Islam Molla, Vice President Ibrahim Khan Sadat, Mohammad Arju, Manjurul Alam, Emdadul Haque, Al-Amin Shaheen, Piyush Kanti Acharya, Mofizur Rahman Limon, Nazrul Islam Shahzada, Bishwajit Pal Babu, Shafiqul Islam, Md. Shahadat Hossain, Farhadul Islam Parvez, and others.