Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary, Shafiqul Alam, has publicly questioned the legitimacy and ethics of conducting a popularity survey on the banned Awami League and its affiliated organizations. In a verified Facebook post on Wednesday, December 10, he criticized the survey’s intent, suggesting it could serve to obscure the party’s alleged record of repression and violence during its long tenure in power.

Alam argued that such surveys risk normalizing or rehabilitating a political force accused of severe human rights abuses, including suppression of opposition rallies and widespread fear-based governance. He recalled that during the Awami League’s 16-year rule, political violence and intimidation were pervasive, leaving ordinary citizens in fear. He also cited analysts who claimed the Hasina government used fear as a political tool to maintain control.

The press secretary emphasized that accountability must precede any political normalization, asserting that the Awami League should face legal scrutiny and acknowledge its past actions before being included in future surveys or political processes.