New Delhi: Bangladesh’s interim government on Saturday formally banned the Awami League citing “national security concerns” and ongoing legal proceedings over alleged crimes against humanity.
The ban, imposed under Bangladesh’s Anti-Terrorism Act, suspends all activities of the party — including its operations in cyberspace — pending the conclusion of trials against its senior leadership at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT). The decision was approved in a meeting of the council of advisers chaired by interim leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus.
A dominant force in Bangladesh politics
“The government has decided to ban the Awami League in the interest of protecting the country’s sovereignty and security, as well as safeguarding the plaintiffs, witnesses, and participants of the July 2024 uprising,” Asif Nazrul, a senior legal adviser to the interim administration, told reporters. The formal gazette notification is expected to be issued today.
Founded in 1949, the Awami League spearheaded the Bengali nationalist movement that culminated in the country’s independence in 1971. In recent decades, it has dominated Bangladesh’s political scene under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina, who served four terms as prime minister.
Hasina was ousted in August 2024 in a massive student-led uprising against her government’s reservation policies and alleged authoritarianism. According to UN estimates, as many as 1,400 protesters died during a brutal crackdown ordered by Hasina’s administration. Facing mounting opposition, Hasina fled the country and has since remained in self-imposed exile in India.
Interim govt also amends ICT Act
The interim government also amended the International Crimes Tribunal Act, granting the tribunal the authority to prosecute not only individuals but entire political parties and their affiliated organisations. Officials said the amendment aims to hold accountable those who orchestrated or supported violence during Hasina’s rule.
The Awami League rejected the administration’s move, calling it “illegitimate”. The ban came after growing public pressure. Thousands of protesters rallied outside Yunus’s residence on Friday, demanding action against Hasina’s party.
