In a striking display of courage and defiance, members of the Awami League have recently begun reclaiming their party offices across Bangladesh, boldly challenging the so-called ban on their political activities imposed in May 2025.
These grassroots actions highlight the unwavering spirit and bravery of ordinary party workers—rickshaw pullers, street vendors, hawkers, and local leaders—who refuse to be silenced despite ongoing restrictions and threats.
Central Office
In Dhaka’s Gulistan area, just two days after the national election, a small group of 7-8 dedicated Awami League supporters arrived at the party’s central office at 23 Bangabandhu Avenue. This building, long abandoned and defaced with a banner falsely claiming it as an “International Fascism and Genocide Research Institute,” had been vandalised, set ablaze, and turned into a site of filth and squatters following the 2024 uprising.
Undeterred, these brave individuals raised the national flag in front of the office, paid solemn salutes to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and left the flag tied to a pole as a symbol of resilience. Eyewitnesses described them as everyday citizens—rickshaw drivers, pavement traders, and hawkers—who declared that with “razakars” no longer in control, it was time to reclaim their space and hoist the flag proudly. Though the flag was later removed, their act sent a powerful message of determination.
Torch The Mir Jafar: Burning poster of fascist Yunus at Dhaka University
Police assault, detain DU professor, supporters at Dhanmondi-32
Bangladesh’s Election: The crisis of trust
Dinajpur
Similar acts of valour unfolded in Dinajpur, where six Awami League and Swachchhasebak League leaders and workers gathered at the long-abandoned district office after 18 months of neglect and destruction. They chanted slogans like “Joy Bangla,” “Joy Bangabandhu,” and “Sheikh Hasina, fear not, we have not left the streets,” took selfies, entered the premises, and demanded urgent repairs to the damaged building. Named leaders including district treasurer Khaled Habib Suman, cultural secretary Rahmatullah Rahmat, and others stood firm in their protest against past attacks.
Khulna
In Khulna, party activists—led by former student leaders—broke the lock on the metropolitan and district office on Lower Jessore Road, raised the national flag, garlanded portraits of Bangabandhu and Sheikh Hasina, and raised “Joy Bangla” slogans. Around 25-30 workers from Awami League, Chhatra League, and Swachchhasebak League participated, describing it as a grassroots initiative inspired by events in Dhaka.
They even installed a new lock to secure the office for future use, emphasising their unity and readiness for any call to action. One participant stated they felt the time had come under a new political government to exercise their rights, rejecting the illegitimate ban.
Sheikh Hasina vows prosecution of Yunus, Election Commission over sham polls
Sheikh Hasina demands cancellation of election, resignation of Yunus
Panchagarh
Even in Panchagarh’s Chaklahat union, the local Awami League office lock was opened in the presence of a BNP leader, allowing the space to be freed from prior restrictions imposed by opponents.
Patuakhali
After 18 months, leaders and activists opened the party office in Dashmina Upazila of Patuakhali around 11am on Monday. Some of them shared a video of the office opening on Facebook.
Earlier, around 7am, the leaders of the Upazila Jubo League and the banned Chhatra League opened the locked party office at Nolkhola Port in Sadar Union of Dashmina Upazila.
They chanted slogans, including “Sheikh Hasina will return,” and “Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu.” The banner reads: “After a long 18 months, Dashmina Upazila Awami League party office is inaugurated.” Later, they hung the banner in front of the office.
Dashmina Upazila Jubo League Organising Secretary Arif Howlader and Chhatra League leader Sohag Pyada led the opening of the party office. Arif Howlader said that after a long 18 months, the party office was opened this morning. Milad was performed at that time. Locals said that they opened the office in the very morning. There were no people on the streets at that time.
On the afternoon of August 5, 2024, the July terrorists vandalised and locked the Dashmina Upazila Awami League office. The office had been closed since then.
These courageous re-entries and symbolic reclamations demonstrate the unbreakable resolve of Awami League members at the grassroots level. Facing a prolonged ban on activities, abandoned and ruined offices, and the constant risk of retaliation, they have chosen peaceful defiance to assert their political identity, loyalty to Bangabandhu’s ideals, and belief in their right to organise.
Yunus’ Mob Gangs
However, these brave expressions of democratic spirit have been met with mobocracy and violence from activists linked to the National Citizen Party (NCP)—the student-led party formed from the 2024 anti-discrimination movement—and its associated groups, including elements tied to Islami Chhatra Shibir (the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, with which NCP has allied).
In Dinajpur, NCP-Shibir-linked activists responded to the slogans by setting fire to the district office in protest. In Khulna, former NCP-affiliated student leaders led an arson attack on the office that evening, vandalising doors and setting papers ablaze to suppress the Awami League’s presence. Such acts of arson, destruction, and intimidation represent pure mob rule—lawless vigilantism aimed at silencing opposition through fear and force rather than democratic means.
These incidents condemn the hypocrisy of those who once championed reform and anti-discrimination but now resort to violent suppression when faced with peaceful political expression. True democracy demands space for all voices, not mob-enforced censorship. The bravery of Awami League workers in defying bans to reopen offices stands in sharp contrast to this thuggery, underscoring their commitment to resilience and constitutional rights amid adversity.
Bengali 
English