Dhaka, May 11 – Bangladesh’s Election Commission (EC) on Sunday stated it is awaiting a formal government gazette before taking any decision regarding the cancellation of the Awami League’s registration, following a sweeping ban imposed by the interim government under the country’s anti-terrorism law.
Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin addressed the media, saying, “If the gazette is published tomorrow (Monday), we will sit and discuss before deciding on Awami League's registration issue.”
Ban Imposed Under Anti-Terrorism Law
The interim government, led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, announced on Saturday night a complete ban on all activities of the Awami League, including its online presence. The move came under provisions of the anti-terrorism law, marking a significant development in Bangladesh's political landscape.A statement from Yunus's office confirmed that an official gazette notification would be released on the next working day. The decision, described as a directive from the Council of Advisers (the interim Cabinet), enforces the ban until the completion of trials against the party and its leadership in the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT).
Security and Legal Revisions Cited
The Council of Advisers cited national security concerns and the protection of complainants and witnesses involved in the ICT trials as the primary reasons for the ban. Additionally, the interim administration amended the ICT law, expanding the tribunal’s jurisdiction to prosecute political parties, including affiliated organizations and front groups.The development follows the dramatic ouster of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government in August 2024 after a violent student-led uprising. The 77-year-old former prime minister fled to India days after her government collapsed. Since then, hundreds of cases have been filed against Hasina and her party colleagues, including charges of mass murder and corruption. Many have been arrested or have fled the country.
Electoral Ramifications Loom
Under Bangladesh's legal framework, the cancellation of a political party's registration with the EC would automatically disqualify it from contesting national elections. The next general election is expected between December 2025 and June 2026.Historical Significance of the Awami League
Founded in 1949, the Awami League played a pivotal role in the Bengali autonomy movement during the era of East Pakistan and led the nation’s Liberation War in 1971. The party, under Sheikh Hasina’s leadership, had governed Bangladesh for 16 years until its recent fall.International Reaction Anticipated
Yunus’s press secretary, Shafiqul Alam, claimed on Sunday that global democratic forces were unlikely to object to the government’s decision. He described the Awami League as a “shameless, killer, anti-democracy and corrupt party.”As the nation awaits the gazette’s release, the future of one of Bangladesh's oldest and most influential political parties hangs in the balance.