matter of national and international debate. Leadership Under Pressure After Tribunal Verdict The situation intensified after the International Crimes Tribunal handed down a death sentence to party chief Sheikh Hasina on charges of crimes against humanity linked to the July mass uprising. Many top leaders are either detained or have fled abroad, while the government has made it clear that the party will not be allowed to contest the upcoming election. Despite these developments, senior leaders remain uncompromising. Several exiled Awami League figures say their immediate priority is to force the inclusion of their party in the next election — a goal they believe is impossible without overthrowing the interim government led by Professor Yunus. Failing this, they intend to disrupt or delegitimize the next parliamentary vote. Internal Discord and Lack of Strategy Analysts observe that the party lacks a unified roadmap. There has been no move toward admitting past mistakes, no visible attempt to reconcile with rivals, and no sign of internal reform — despite increasing pressure from foreign partners to acknowledge errors and restructure. Some leaders have reportedly suggested a “purified Awami League,” free from controversial figures. While there have been discussions about leadership change—including Hasina potentially handing over authority to another family member—these remain distant possibilities. Return Through the Ballot? Experts identify two possible paths for the Awami League to return as a political force: A second mass uprising similar to the movement that led to their fall — a scenario even party insiders admit is unrealistic, given the leadership vacuum and widespread arrests. Public apology and political recalibration , which analysts say could open a long-term route to rehabilitation. However, senior party figures are unwilling to admit wrongdoing, particularly regarding accusations related to the killing of over 1,400 people and the injuring of tens of thousands during the July uprising, as cited in a UN fact-finding report. Eroding Public Sympathy Human rights abuses during the uprising have left deep wounds. Families of the dead and injured oppose any political comeback by the party, and the interim government sees no political space for restoring a group that has openly positioned itself as antagonistic. Even if some individuals run as independents, analysts believe a full organizational revival is unlikely in the near future. Opposition parties like the BNP and Jamaat, who faced persecution during the Awami League’s 15-year rule, have also stated they would not welcome the party back to political prominence. Younger activists leading the uprising, now organized under the National Citizens’ Party (NCP), strongly oppose any return of the former ruling party. Dependence on External Forces Many Awami League leaders currently living in India believe New Delhi’s accommodating attitude signals a potential pathway back. Others pinned hopes on U.S. political shifts, particularly after Donald Trump’s election victory, though such expectations have faded. Despite public criticism of Bangladesh’s security forces after the party’s fall, many leaders still expect these same forces might eventually help pave a path for their return. The Road Ahead Political scientist Professor Al Masud Hasanuzzaman argues that the Tribunal verdict has forced the Awami League into a moment of reckoning. Reorganization, leadership restructuring, and fundamental policy shifts are essential if the party wishes to re-emerge as a legitimate democratic force. For now, the party waits — divided, uncertain, yet hopeful — betting on political turbulence, international pressure, or internal government shifts that might reopen space for its return. Whether such conditions will ever materialize remains unclear.