Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Friday ruled out the possibility of the Awami League returning to politics, saying the people would never again allow the party to engage in political activities in the country. “Those who shed people's blood to establish fascism, oppressed the people and committed genocide will have no place in the country's politics again,” he said.

The minister made the remarks while addressing the concluding session of the 104th two-day annual religious conference at Al-Jamiatul Islamiah Azizul Uloom Babunagar in Fatikchhari, Chattogram.

Questioning whether the people wanted the return of what he described as fascist forces, Salahuddin said some quarters were trying to create an environment for their political comeback.

“Those who were forced to flee the country in the face of the mass uprising will not be allowed to return and engage in politics here,” he said, adding that those responsible for mass killings and repression had yet to express regret or remorse.

He said people were united in opposing the political activities of those responsible for mass killings, despite differences in their political views and ideologies.

The home minister also alleged that fascist forces were behind attempts to create unrest in the garment sector.

Addressing those creating disturbances in the name of movements, he urged them to engage in constructive criticism.

“You may choose not to cooperate with the government, but do not withhold your cooperation from the people of this country,” he said.

Salahuddin said it had taken 16 to 17 years to free the country from what he described as an autocratic and Islam-hostile regime. Many Islamic scholars and madrasa students had sacrificed their lives during the struggle, he added.

Citing United Nations estimates, the minister said around 1,400 people were killed during the July-August mass uprising, while nearly 3,000 people had been victims of enforced disappearance over the preceding 16 to 17 years.

“I was also one of them. By the grace of Almighty Allah and through people's prayers, I am still alive,” he said.

He claimed that around 7,000 people had been killed or subjected to various forms of torture and persecution during that period. Millions of others had faced harassment through attacks and politically motivated cases, he added.

Salahuddin said the government wanted to ensure the country's economic prosperity and improve the living standards of Islamic scholars (ulema) and students of Qawmi madrasahs.

He also alleged that some political groups were using the name of Islam for political gains, despite having no mention of Islamic values in their election manifestos.

“Although they say one thing, their documents and official records tell a different story,” he said.

“We believe in Islamic values. We are the party that incorporated ‘Bismillah’ into the Constitution. We follow the nationalist and Islamic values introduced by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman,” the minister said.

“We have built a united Bangladesh where people from all walks of life share a common national identity. We never want to see divisions among the people of this country,” he added.