Dhaka: Bangladesh’s interim government has formally banned all activities of the Awami League, the political party of ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, invoking the country’s Anti-Terrorism Act and citing threats to national security. The announcement, made late Saturday, comes amid escalating unrest and mass protests demanding accountability for past abuses.
The prohibition follows a week of intense street demonstrations spearheaded by the student-led National Citizen Party, which emerged from the popular uprising that unseated Hasina last year. The protests, gaining traction nationwide, have drawn support from a broad coalition of Islamist and right-wing political forces, including Jamaat-e-Islami and other opposition groups. These factions have publicly urged the government to classify the Awami League as a terrorist organisation.
According to the interim administration, the ban will remain in force until the conclusion of a trial against the Awami League and its senior leadership. They face charges related to the deaths of hundreds of demonstrators during the crackdown on protests, allegedly carried out under the party’s rule, and currently under review at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT).
In a significant legal shift, the government has amended the ICT Act to expand its jurisdiction beyond individuals, empowering the tribunal to prosecute entire political parties and organisations. The legislative change sets the stage for the Awami League to face collective legal accountability for alleged human rights abuses and crimes committed during its time in office.
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Founded in 1949, the Awami League played a pivotal role in Bangladesh’s independence struggle. It has, however, rejected the legitimacy of the interim government’s decision, posting on its official Facebook page: “All decisions of the illegal government are illegal.”
The political climate in Bangladesh has deteriorated significantly since August, when Hasina fled to India following a wave of violent anti-government demonstrations. An interim government led by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus has since assumed control, pledging broad democratic reforms and indicating that general elections may be postponed until 2026.
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The current crisis traces back to student protests in July over contentious public sector job quotas. What began as a youth-led movement quickly evolved into one of the bloodiest episodes of political upheaval since the country’s independence in 1971. In October, authorities escalated their crackdown by banning the Awami League’s student wing, the Bangladesh Chhatra League, and officially designating it a “terrorist organisation” for its alleged role in orchestrating violent attacks against demonstrators.
The situation remains volatile, with growing concern over how Bangladesh will navigate this turbulent transition amid competing demands for justice, stability, and democratic restoration.
