Bangladesh: Thousands gather to pay final respects to Awami League veteran, despite ban

Thousands of supporters gathered in central Dhaka to pay their final respects to Awami League veteran Tofail Ahmed on Monday, defying a ban on the Sheikh Hasina-led party. Chants of “Joy Bangla,” a slogan closely associated with the 1971 Liberation War, echoed through the city as people paid tribute to the 82-year-old.

Tofail Ahmed, an eight-time Member of Parliament and former minister, was a prominent figure in Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War. His passing and the subsequent large gathering are being interpreted by many in Dhaka’s political circles as a sign of continued support for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The event also fuels speculation about the potential emergence of a "reformed or refined" Awami League.

This resurgence of support for the Awami League is partly attributed to recent claims by a former adviser to the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government. The adviser suggested that the interim government's minimal reforms, inaction on minority persecution, and its alliance with the hardline Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami to counter the BNP have created an opening for the Awami League to regain influence.

In a separate development, Dipen Dewan, one of two ministers from minority communities in Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s administration, resigned from his cabinet post on Monday. Dewan, who served as the minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts affairs, cited deteriorating health as the reason for his resignation, stating it had made fulfilling his responsibilities increasingly difficult. Nitai Roy Chowdhury, the Hindu minister for cultural affairs, remains in the cabinet.