The Awami League (AL) has no relations with the Awami Olama League, which identifies itself as an affiliate of the ruling party, says Mahbub-Ul-Alam Hanif.
The AL joint general secretary’s clarification came on Tuesday night, a day after an anti-communal platform demanded an explanation on the nature of the party’s relationship with the organisation, which recently demanded a ban on Bangla New Year celebrations.
“Awami League has no ties with the Olama League. Orders have already been given to take legal action against such organisations,” Hanif told bdnews24.com.
The Islamist outfit formed a human chain on Saturday to ask the government to cut down funding for Pahela Baishakh celebrations and divert the money to festivals like Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi instead.
They also demanded that Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha be stripped of his position for being a Hindu.
Even though the AL does not officially recognise Olama as an affiliated body, leading figures of the party have been attending their programmes.
Olama League leaders have also been seen actively participating in the Awami League’s events.
At a programme on Monday, an alliance against militancy and communalism demanded arrest of Olama League leaders for making communal comments.
The coalition’s Convenor Abed Khan said, “Olama League, a rootless organisation, is cheating people by using Awami League’s identity. They can now do their work with relative ease.”
“Police can get in the way of programmes of political parties, so why shouldn’t they stop an organisation that calls for programmes that go against the government and the nation?” he asked.
Kamal Pasha Chowdhury, leader of Muktijoddha Chhatra Command, said, “Awami League leaders have made individual comments about Olama League not being an affiliate. But this needs to be cleared once and for all.
“I will urge Awami League leaders to publish their statements in the newspaper,” he added.
Source: Bd news24
