Special Correspondent

The party is now suffering from a leadership vacuum after long-time ruling Awami League President and former prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country in a student uprising.

However, the situation was different on the 75th anniversary of Awami League on June 23. The presence of activists in the rally organized at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital was filled to the brim. But in just two months the situation has completely changed.

After Sheikh Hasina fled India, many top leaders also left the country. Others were arrested while 'trying to leave the country'. Besides, among the leaders who are still staying in the country, almost all of them are 'in hiding'.

Leaders and activists of Awami League, which currently has no leadership, are suffering from extreme depression. Many of them are now living in anxiety and fear. They also did not want to reveal their names while speaking to the press.

A district level leader of Awami League said, 'Our party is now in a state of disorientation. Because it has been a month but no effective instructions have been given from the centre. No one picked up the phone. The activists are disappointed with all the attacks and cases. In this situation, many activists are thinking of leaving politics.

On the other hand, grass root workers-supporters have blamed the senior leaders of the party for the present condition of Awami League. An Awami League worker from Faridepur said, "The leaders should not be unaware that such a situation can happen if the power is lost. They are responsible for this.

He also said, 'The leaders ate the cream, they made crores of rupees; And grassroots leaders and activists like us have to suffer the punishment of their sins.

However, a top leader of Awami League who is staying abroad said, "This country became independent in 71 years under the leadership of Awami League. So as long as the country exists, our party will also exist. We will turn around again.'

Although they covered themselves for fear of attack, the families of most of the Awami League leaders and workers are still in their area. However, many wives and children are in trouble while running the family due to lack of income.

The Awami League worker who fled and took refuge in Dhaka said, 'We are running away ourselves, how can we do our work? And if there is no income, what is the state of the world, do you understand that?'

The man, who is an auto driver by profession, said that his wife often called and cried because she could not manage the family. He said, 'How long will it be like this? I cry just thinking about it. It seems that doing politics is a sin. That's why I have decided not to do politics anymore. That Awami League worker of Faridpur told BBC Bangla.

A district level leader of Awami League says that many more workers are moving towards such a decision.

"You're running away, it's hard to accept"

Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said in a press conference on July 24, "Sheikh Hasina has run away, Sheikh Hasina is gone, Sheikh Hasina is gone; Sheikh Hasina does not run away. However, exactly 10 days after this incident, after millions of people came down on the streets, the Awami League president fled to India in a helicopter on the afternoon of August 5, which the party's leaders and activists still cannot accept.

A leader of Dhaka District Awami League said, 'I still can't believe it. It is difficult to accept that you are running away.

He also said, "Those who know Sheikh Hasina, know. Those who have seen him up close will not believe it. Because he is not a person to run away at all. If the Awami League president had not left the country, the situation would have been different.

A leader of Trinamool said, "Khaleda Zia did not leave after losing power, she did not even run away from dictatorship like Ershad." We still cannot understand why the leader left the country. In this situation, Sheikh Hasina should return to the country even if she faces trial.

Gopalganj leaders under pressure

"After Sheikh Hasina's escape, when the leaders and activists of other districts including Dhaka were going 'undercover', the exact opposite picture was seen in Gopalganj, the home district of the Awami League president."

They also held several protest marches immediately after August 5, claiming that Sheikh Hasina was forced to leave the country. But after August 15, Awami League activists are no longer seen as active in Gopalganj.

Local leaders said that the 'pressure' on army personnel has been under pressure ever since the attack.

Who will take the lead ?

A few days after Sheikh Hasina left Bangladesh, her son Sajib Wazed Joy announced that her husband would not return to politics.

I think this is the end. "My family and I - we've had enough," Joy said in an interview with the BBC.

However, within a few days, a different tone can be heard in his voice.

"Of course she (Sheikh Hasina) will return to Bangladesh when the interim government announces the election date," Joy told the BBC in another interview.