Hasina's return declaration is a political stunt: Ishraque

"Sheikh Hasina is talking about returning to the country in December only to boost the morale of her party workers. It is nothing but a political stunt,” he said, while addressing a mock parliament debate in the city on the issue of accountability for the July killings.

Debate for Democracy arranged the mock debate in the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC).

Ishraque alleged members of the Awami family had fled the country even before the July uprising, calling it an act of cowardice.

He claimed the Awami League had made a strategic political mistake by moving towards what he described as fascism instead of democratic principles.

He also claimed that AL suffered its "ultimate political, social and moral defeat" over the July mass killings and has lost its credibility in the international arena.

The state minister said AL leaders and activists have largely remained out of public view since Aug 5, 2024, but many allies of the party continue to hold positions in the administration, business community and cultural arena.

“Awami League has no political future. There is no scope for Awami League to get rehabilitated in politics,” he said.

Despite differences among anti-Awami League political forces, Ishraque urged all groups involved in the July mass uprising to remain united, warning that disunity could create an opportunity for Awami League to re-emerge.

"For the sake of democracy, anti-fascist unity is essential to protect the spirit of July," he said.

Speaking as the chair of the event, Debate for Democracy Chairman Hasan Ahmmed Chowdhury Kiron said the July uprising was the outcome of a prolonged anti-government movement led by the BNP and other anti-fascist political parties, combined with the united efforts of students and the people.

He said the July mass uprising represented not only the fall of the Awami League government but also the party's political, social, moral and ideological defeat caused by the July mass killings, alleging that the ousted prime minister could not evade responsibility for the killings.

The mock parliament debate, titled "Awami League's social defeat on account of the July killings is greater than its political defeat," was won by debaters from the Bangladesh University of Business and Technology (BUBT), who defeated their counterparts from Gono University.

The judges of the competition were Prof Abu Muhammad Raish, Dr SM Morshed, journalists Arifuzzaman Mamun, Maidur Rahman Rubel and Zakir Hossain Liton.

Trophies, crests and certificates were distributed among the participating teams, reports UNB.