A large number of Awami League leaders and activists left Bangladesh through various means before and after the party was ousted from power on 5 August 2024. Among them are former prime minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina and all members of her family, who are now living in India and the United States.
Most central leaders, along with leaders of the Awami League’s affiliated organisations — including Jubo League, Chhatra League, Swechchhasebak League and Mohila Awami League — are currently residing in India and several other countries. With their wealth and resources, they are living comfortably with their families.
Meanwhile, party leaders and activists who remain in Bangladesh are facing difficult circumstances. When they respond to calls from absconding leaders on social media and become politically active, many end up being arrested. The exiled leaders have shown little hesitation in encouraging those at home to take risks.
Several former ministers, members of parliament and senior leaders who were unable to flee are currently in prison. They include former ministers and Presidium members Amir Hossain Amu, Md Abdur Razzaque, Anisul Huq, Salman F Rahman, Faruk Khan, Shahjahan Khan, Kamrul Islam, Dipu Moni, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Kazi Zafar Ullah, Abdus Sobhan Golap, Ahmad Hossain, Akhtaruzzaman and many others.
Amid this situation, Hasina appeared virtually at a press conference on Wednesday, announcing that she would return to Bangladesh from Delhi in December and urging party leaders and activists to become active.
Inspired by her call, many supporters inside the country began trying to make their presence visible. Although many exiled leaders remain active on social media, they have little practical role inside Bangladesh. Instead, many party leaders and activists at home are facing difficulties after acting on their online appeals.
Hasina and senior leaders hold virtual meetings where several leaders make bold commitments to her and other senior party figures, but later shift responsibility for implementing those plans onto grassroots activists. When those activists are subsequently arrested by police, many of the leaders fail to stand by them.
A former MP from Bhola, now living in India, was reportedly rebuked by Hasina after claiming he could mobilise a large gathering in Dhaka. Grassroots activists have also expressed frustration with the president and general secretary of Dhaka District Awami League whenever they have had the opportunity. Party leaders assigned to Gazipur and Narayanganj continue making promises through virtual platforms, but local activists say they remain unconvinced.
A large number of AL leaders, activists, supporters and members of its affiliated organisations remain inside the country. Many are in hiding, while many others have been arrested and are now in prison. Their families continue to suffer hardship while making repeated trips to courts and prisons.
Although many are facing financial difficulties, they say no one is standing beside them. By contrast, those living abroad face neither the threat of arrest nor attacks and continue to live without fear.
Despite the ban on party activities, AL leaders and activists continue attempts to remain active. Alongside online campaigns, they have organised sudden processions, only to be arrested and sent to jail.
AL still has many supporters within civil society. In the changed political environment, they too are living under various forms of pressure and fear.
Following Hasina’s latest virtual meeting, many party leaders and activists appeared reinvigorated. Her announcement that she would return to Bangladesh in December, along with leaders living abroad, has prompted many who had been in hiding to reappear in public. Some leaders released on bail have also resumed political activities. Meanwhile, the government has maintained a hard-line stance.
According to Police Headquarters, more than 44,000 people have been arrested across Bangladesh at various times since August 2024. A significant proportion of those arrested are AL leaders, activists and supporters at different levels.
According to data compiled by several human rights organisations, more than 300 AL leaders and activists have been killed in attacks, mob violence and alleged extrajudicial incidents since August. During the same period, at least 40 party leaders and activists have died in custody.
Several party leaders hiding in Narayanganj, Dhaka, Manikganj, Narsingdi and Sherpur said influential and wealthy leaders and activists had fled the country. Those who remain are largely people who support the party out of emotion and loyalty.
They alleged that over the past two years, no senior leader has maintained meaningful contact with grassroots workers. Instead, they have offered words of encouragement through social media or online calls, urging them to “do whatever they can for the party”.
They also alleged that many fugitive party figures have invested millions in businesses in Thailand, Kolkata and Nepal, particularly in the hotel and restaurant sectors.
In addition, many leaders and activists continue to own businesses in Bangladesh. Some also earn income from rented houses and commercial properties. According to the leaders, money is regularly sent to them through hundi (an informal and illegal money transfer system).
The fled leaders
Hasina is currently staying in Delhi after fleeing Bangladesh two years ago. Other prominent figures living abroad include former ministers Obaidul Quader, Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Mirza Azam, Abdur Rahman, Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Sheikh Helal Uddin, Hasan Mahmud, Alauddin Ahmed Chowdhury Nasim, Nizam Uddin Hazari, Sheikh Sohel, Sheikh Jewel, Mohammad Ali Arafat, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, Jubo League Chairman Fazle Shams Parash, former mayor Fazle Noor Taposh, former MP Sheikh Tonmoy, Shamim Osman, Benazir Ahmed, Bahauddin Bahar, Nurunnabi Chowdhury Shawon, Saiful Islam, Pankaj Debnath, former Sylhet City Corporation mayor Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury, former Cumilla City Corporation mayor Tahsin Bahar Suchana, former Gazipur City Corporation mayor Jahangir Alam, Jubo League General Secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, Chhatra League President Saddam Hossain, General Secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Inan, former Chhatra League President Liaquat Sikder, Sujit Roy Nandi and Ismail Hossain Samrat, among others.
A large number of them are living in different states of India, including Kolkata and Delhi. Others are residing in the United States, the United Kingdom, Thailand, Nepal, Dubai and Portugal.
Several hundred district- and upazila-level leaders and activists are also staying in Kolkata, Shillong, Assam, Delhi and other parts of India. Most of them are facing criminal cases in Bangladesh — including murder charges — and have arrest warrants issued against them.
Nearly 200 Jubo League and Chhatra League leaders and activists are also reportedly staying in Nepal.
