Bangladesh Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus recently imposed a ban on the Awami League, the oldest political party of Bangladesh, under the Anti- terrorism act of 2009. This decision by Bangladesh’s interim government reflects a radical shift in governance and political accountability. The Awami League, has dominated Bangladesh’s politics for over 16 years, until mass protests precipitated leading to Sheikh Hasina’s dismissal in August 2024.
The Scope and Provision of the Ban
According to the interim government, the ban on the Awami League (AL) was the outcome of political unrest essential for protecting national security and ensuring International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) proceedings against former AL leaders and affiliates. All activities including physical, cyberspace operations and any form of digital communication or campaigning, are completely banned, until the party’s trials are finished concerning alleged crimes during the 2024 protests. The Election Commission too has canceled the AL registration for the upcoming election expected between Dec 2025 to mid 2026.
The ban specifically prohibits-
- Any media platform from publishing any statement or information supporting the Awami league.
- Closure of party offices and cessation of public gatherings, including rallies, processions, press conferences, or speeches on behalf of the Party.
- The party is also required to submit income and expenditure reports to government authorities, disclosing all sources of funding, effectively curtailing its financial operations.
- The government also banned the student wing of the Awami league, the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), that is labelled as a terrorist organization following the protests in 2024.
Following the ban, the interim government amended the International Crimes (Tribunal ) Act of 1973, through the addition of Section 20 B. This section enables the tribunal to not only prosecute individuals but also political parties and supporte groups collectively. The section also gives the tribunal the power to cancel registration or licenses of such organizations and permits the confiscation of their assets.
Political Response on the ban :
The Bangladesh National Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islami and the newly formed National Citizen Party (NCP) have welcomed the ban, stating the ban as an important measure to dismantle entrenched authoritarianism and facilitate political pluralism. At a press briefing covered by The Daily Star, Salahuddin Ahmed, a member of BNP’s standing committee, mentioned that the ban aligns with the long-standing demands to hold the AL accountable for abuses and restore meritocracy. Similarly, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, endorsed the ban stating partial fulfillment of our demands for political cleansing. The National Citizen Party actively protested for the ban across urban centers, including Dhaka’s Shahbagh Square, demanding the immediate proscription of the AL.
Globally, the prohibition elicited cautious reactions. Western governments voiced concern at democratic fairness, highlighting multi-party democracy and warning against political exclusions that could disenfranchise large electorates. The External Affairs Ministry of India’s spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal at, a weekly media briefing, too expressed concern over the reported ban stating it as a ‘concerning development’. He also emphasized that India supports the idea of holding free, fair, and inclusive elections in Bangladesh as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, Yunus’s government spokesperson Shafiqul Alam, said that Bangladesh’s elections is their internal matter and not something other countries should interfere in. He also criticized the Awami League for holding unfair elections in the past, which he believes harmed the country’s electoral system.
Conversely, the Awami League rejected the ban, labelling it as illegitimate and fascist. In a statement on X, the Party accused the interim government of fostering societal division and asserted that the people no longer feel safe under the current regime and vowed to resist the ban, framing it as an attack on inclusivity and democracy.
Long term factors surrounding the ban
- Banning one of the oldest and largest party has raised concerns about whether election and governance can remain truly representative and fair.
- Although the ban may seem like a step towards justice or reform, political instability of Bangladesh may slow down the economic progress and for a country already facing high youth unemployment and inflation, the fallout from this ban could worsen people’s day-to-day struggles.
- With the AL ban, there’s a chance that far-right or Islamist parties like Jamaat-e-Islami could regain ground. The re-entry of extremist parties could spark new divisions in society, especially around religion and minority groups.
- The Election Commission now faces a tough job as Bangladesh is heading into its next elections without one of the biggest political parties in its history.
Conclusion
Bangladesh’s political order has been significantly impacted by the ban. With the removal of a historically dominant political power, a power vacuum emerges, thus readjusting the nation’s political dynamics and presenting both chances and dangers. By using Anti – Terrorism Act, the Yunus led government has shown its commitment to justice and accountability, values that strongly connect with the young people who led the protests. This ban can be viewed as a smart move by the interim government to regain public trust, as the government was criticised for its slow response to economic challenges, lack of clear reforms, and inability to deliver on the promises that had fuelled the youth-led uprising. Keeping in mind the upcoming election, this ban has created space for the rise of new political alternatives—particularly a youth-led party (NCP).
Many advisors of the interim government includes academicians and professors who have left Bangladesh years ago and this composition reflects a deliberate attempt to project neutrality and intellectual integrity. Keeping this in mind, the ban appears less as a democratic reform and more as a strategic ploy to gain popularity among the youth. Going forward, the ban marks a critical turning point and the interim government must strike a balance between promoting inclusive governance, upholding justice and accountability in order to ensure Bangladesh’s political stability and democratic future. The ban serves both as a response to past allegations against the Awami League and a calculated effort by interim government to boost its own popularity or to potentially trigger another political crisis in the country. What happens next will depend on how inclusive and fair the political process of the country is especially when the elections seems to be postponed time and again.
