Three Million Votes of Awami League Cause Headaches for Many: Abu Alam Shahid Khan

Former Secretary and political analyst Abu Alam Shahid Khan has remarked that even though the Awami League is barred from participating in the elections, its nearly three million voters remain a source of concern for many. He made these comments during a recent talk show.

Shahid Khan observed:

• Those who regard the Awami League as a ‘mafia party’ and advocate for its ban still acknowledge that the party’s support does not fall below 20–25%.
• Considering a total of 12 crore registered voters, 25% translates to approximately three crore votes.
• Each voter represents a family, meaning the Awami League cannot simply be considered entirely eradicated from the political landscape.

He emphasised that even under the current restrictions, where the Awami League’s activities have been suspended and the Election Commission has declared that their symbol will not appear on the ballot, the party’s support continues to cause unease among some political actors. He suggested that this fear is likely behind various speculations and perceptions about the party.

Shahid Khan also stressed the importance of understanding history to interpret present realities. He referenced key events in Bangladesh’s political history:

He noted that today’s younger generation has not witnessed these events firsthand, just as we did not experience the First or Second World War directly. However, by studying history, one can clearly understand the foundations of current political dynamics.

Shahid Khan concluded that Awami League’s historical and electoral significance continues to shape political perceptions, even when the party is officially absent from the electoral process.