Dhaka — Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tazul Islam has announced that a preliminary investigation is being launched to determine whether the Awami League, as a political party, can be prosecuted as a criminal organization.
Speaking to reporters at the International Crimes Tribunal premises on Sunday (October 5), the Chief Prosecutor confirmed that the move follows a formal complaint submitted earlier by the political party NDM (National Democratic Movement).
“We have received allegations from NDM, and based on those, we are initiating an initial inquiry,” Tazul Islam said. “Therefore, it can be said that at this stage, we are beginning a preliminary investigation to assess whether the Awami League can face trial as a criminal organization. Once the full investigation begins, we will be able to determine how far the matter can proceed.”
Legal experts suggest that if the tribunal proceeds beyond the preliminary phase, it could mark the first attempt in Bangladesh’s history to legally evaluate a major political party’s conduct under the framework of international or domestic criminal accountability.
