In Dhaka, Bangladesh, tension has mounted as the former ruling party, Awami League, is facing an accusatory stance from the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. The government announced a ban on all activities of the Awami League under the Anti-Terrorism Act after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was overthrown following violent unrest.
Asif Nazrul, an adviser on law affairs, stated that the prohibition would remain until a special tribunal completes the hearing of the Awami League’s trial. This trial concerns the deaths of hundreds of protesters, mainly students, during uprisings in July and August the previous year. Additionally, the government has given the International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka the authority to try any political party for grave offenses.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which is another prominent political faction in the country, initially opposed the prohibition of the Awami League. However, Salahuddin Ahmed, a senior member of the BNP, expressed approval regarding the trial of the Awami League concerning protester deaths, calling it a “delayed but timely” move. The trial has been a longstanding demand of the party. This piece of news was covered by the English-language newspaper, Daily Star.
The restrictions against the Awami League are set to become effective on Monday. The party, through its official presence online, expressed concerns on Sunday, claiming that citizens no longer feel secure under the leadership of Yunus. The Awami League criticized the ban for intensifying social division, undermining democratic practices, and perpetuating a campaign against dissent. They argued these actions, disguised as judicial proceedings for the past violence, were crippling democratic inclusivity.
The ban also followed mass demonstrations where thousands, including students and Islamist group supporters, demanded the prohibition of the Awami League, which the party claimed were orchestrated by the state. These protests culminated in an ultimatum demanding the government enforce a ban by Saturday night.
Exiled in India since August 5, Sheikh Hasina, along with top party leaders, is facing allegations related to the violent suppression of protesters during her administration. A United Nations human rights office report earlier this year indicated that up to 1,400 people might have perished during the anti-Hasina protests which lasted three weeks. It urged the interim government to avoid banning political parties to preserve a true multi-party democracy and prevent disenfranchising Bangladeshi citizens.
Following the student-led uprising, which concluded Hasina’s 15-year regime, Bangladesh’s political landscape stands at an impasse. The BNP is pushing for elections in December and has insisted on a specific electoral framework from the interim authority. However, the governing body has proposed that the electoral timeline might be either in December or June of the following year, contingent on how far their reform initiatives progress.