Amid rising political tensions, Awami League is covertly organising a mass mobilisation effort in anticipation of party leader Sheikh Hasina’s return to Bangladesh.
According to a confidential intelligence report received by the Bangladesh interim government, the party is allegedly directing 200,000 to 250,000 leaders and activists from each organisational unit to assemble in Dhaka within a week.
In response to the intelligence alert, Bangladesh’s government has issued strict directives to the police force, calling for heightened nationwide surveillance and preemptive action.
In a surprising move, the government order explicitly instructed law enforcement agencies to seek “cooperation” from political parties such as the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami — longtime rivals of the Awami League — to thwart the party’s mobilisation efforts. This directive is being seen as a rare instance where state machinery is formally aligning with opposition forces to suppress the activities of a competing political outfit.
The orders to stop the mobilisation include:
Monitoring Movement: Increased observation of the public's movements, particularly individuals with political affiliations.
Targeted Arrests: Identification and arrest of individuals facing criminal charges through mobile tracking technologies.
Establishment of Checkpoints: Strategic checkposts to be set up at major city entry points and transit hubs.
Enhanced Surveillance at Transport Nodes: Special focus on key locations such as ferry terminals, railway stations, and inter-district bus stands.
Political Collaboration: Cooperation with local political organisations — including the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the National Citizens Party (NCP)—to prevent mass gatherings heading towards the capital.
The directive further instructs law enforcement agencies to monitor social media platforms closely for any indication of organisational activity or incitement. Financial contributors to the Awami League’s mobilisation efforts are also under scrutiny, with authorities instructed to track and investigate any suspected funding routes. Surveillance will reportedly extend to buses, minibuses and other hired transport suspected of being used to ferry supporters to Dhaka.
The Awami League has issued a strong rebuttal to the government's move, condemning what it described as a baseless and politically motivated crackdown. Party officials argue that the so-called intelligence report is a fabrication designed to suppress opposition voices and detain their leaders and activists under false pretenses.
“This is yet another attempt to stifle our democratic rights,” a senior Awami League spokesperson said. “No matter the obstacles, Sheikh Hasina will one day return to her homeland with dignity and honour.”
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