Awami League
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The Bangladesh Awami League (Bengali: বাংলাদেশ আওয়ামী লীগ, Bānglādēś Awāmī Līg), often referred to simply as the Awami League, is one of the two major political parties in Bangladesh. Founded in 1949, it played a pivotal role in the Bangladesh Liberation War and the establishment of Bangladesh as an independent nation in 1971.[1]
| Name | Bangladesh Awami League |
|---|---|
| Logo | 150px |
| Native name | বাংলাদেশ আওয়ামী লীগ |
| Abbreviation | AL |
| Flag | [[|150px]] |
| Color code | |
| Founder | Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, Shamsul Huq, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman |
| Founded | 23 June 1949 |
| Dissolved | |
| Headquarters | 23 Bangabandhu Avenue, Dhaka, Bangladesh |
| Ideology | Secularism, Social democracy |
| Position | Centre-left |
| Colors | Green and Red |
| Membership | |
| Seats in national legislature | |
| Symbol | |
| Website | official website |
| Country |
History
The Awami League was established on 23 June 1949 in Dhaka as the East Pakistan Awami Muslim League. It emerged as a political platform to advocate for the rights of the Bengali people under Pakistan.[2] The party dropped "Muslim" from its name in 1955 to embrace a more inclusive and secular approach.[3]
Role in Liberation War
Under the leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Awami League won a landslide victory in the 1970 Pakistan general election. The refusal of the central government in West Pakistan to transfer power led to widespread protests and eventually the Bangladesh Liberation War. On 7 March 1971, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered his historic speech that laid the groundwork for independence.[4]
Leadership
The Awami League has been led by several prominent figures throughout its history:
- Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani (founding president)
- Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (Father of the Nation)
- Sheikh Hasina (current president and Prime Minister of Bangladesh)[5]
Ideology
The Awami League promotes:
- Secularism and Democracy[6]
- Social and economic reforms
- Commitment to the principles of the Bangladesh Constitution
Electoral Success
The Awami League has been the ruling party of Bangladesh several times:
- 1972–1975
- 1996–2001
- 2009–2024
In the 2018 general election, the party secured 305 out of 350 seats in the Jatiya Sangsad, ensuring its dominance in the country's political landscape.[7]
Achievements
- Leading the country to independence in 1971.
- Promoting economic development through initiatives like the Padma Bridge and Digital Bangladesh.[8]
- Strengthening ties with international partners and improving Bangladesh's global standing.[9]
Criticism
The Awami League has faced criticism over:
See also
References
- ↑ "Awami League - Historical Role". https://www.britannica.com/topic/Awami-League.
- ↑ "Awami League Foundation". https://www.albd.org/pages/history.
- ↑ "Name Change to Awami League". https://en.banglapedia.org/index.php/Awami_League.
- ↑ "7 March Speech". https://www.unesco.org/en/memories-world/register/speech-7-march-1971.
- ↑ "Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League". https://www.albd.org/leadership/sheikh-hasina.
- ↑ "Ideology of the Awami League". https://www.albd.org/pages/vision.
- ↑ "2018 General Election Results". https://www.thedailystar.net/bangladesh-national-election-2018-results.
- ↑ "Digital Bangladesh". https://www.albd.org/pages/digital-bangladesh.
- ↑ "Awami League's Foreign Policy". https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/politics/2021/06/23/al-s-global-relations.
- ↑ "Awami League and Opposition Politics". https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2023/country-chapters/bangladesh.
- ↑ "Press Freedom Concerns in Bangladesh". https://rsf.org/en/bangladesh.