Dhaka: Bangladesh’s interim government has formally outlawed all operations of the Awami League, the country's oldest political party and the former ruling party of ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The move, announced late Saturday, was made under the Anti-Terrorism Act, citing threats to national security.
The announcement comes on the heels of widespread street protests, spearheaded by the youth-led National Citizen Party. The group rose to prominence during last year's popular uprising, which ultimately forced Hasina to flee the country. Demonstrators, backed by several Islamist and right-wing groups, including Jamaat-e-Islami, had been calling for the Awami League to be branded a terrorist organisation.
According to the interim administration, the ban will stay in effect until legal proceedings against the party and its senior figures are completed. These charges stem from the deaths of hundreds of demonstrators during the violent suppression of protests, cases that are now before the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT).
In a significant legal shift, the government also amended the ICT Act, expanding its jurisdiction to include not just individuals but also entire political parties and organisations. This legislative change allows for the prosecution of the Awami League as an entity over alleged crimes during its tenure.
The Awami League, which was founded in 1949 and played a central role in Bangladesh’s independence, has condemned the decision. In a statement posted on social media, the party declared: “All decisions of the illegal government are illegal.”
Tensions have been escalating in Bangladesh following months of deadly protests. The unrest began in July over job quota reforms but rapidly transformed into a broader anti-government movement. In August, Hasina fled to India amid mounting pressure, and a transitional administration led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus assumed power.
Yunus has promised institutional reforms and hinted that national elections could be postponed until 2026.
In October, authorities also banned the Awami League’s student affiliate, the Bangladesh Chhatra League, branding it a terrorist group for its role in attacks against demonstrators.
