In a pivotal move, Bangladeshโs Election Commission has annulled the registration of the Awami League, the formerly governing party under deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, thereby barring it from the forthcoming national elections anticipated by next June.
This significant decision followed quickly on the heels of an official notification from the interim administration, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, which prohibited the Awami League from engaging in any activities both online and offline.
The formal announcement by the Ministry of Home Affairs detailed that the partyโs operations were banned two days subsequent to the interim Cabinetโs decision. This ban was enacted under the Anti-Terrorism Act until a specialized tribunal concludes the trials of the partyโs leaders.
The government decree declared that all forms of activity, including media broadcasts, social media engagement, and any public demonstrations or meetings, would be restricted until the judicial process involving the partyโs leadership is completed. This prohibition took effect immediately.
Additionally, the Election Commission confirmed it would not permit the Awami League, helmed by Sheikh Hasina, to take part in the upcoming elections due to its deregistration. Political factions must register with the Election Commission to be eligible for election participation.
A government adviser further stated that individuals expressing support for the Awami League online could face arrest, intensifying the governmentโs crackdown on the party.
In response, the Awami League accused the interim authorities of exacerbating societal divides and undermining democratic principles by enacting such a ban. The party claimed in a statement that these measures have fueled societal division, suppressed democratic norms, and hindered the expression of dissent.
As one of Bangladeshโs two principal political parties, the Awami League operates within a turbulent parliamentary system marred by episodes of political violence and power struggles.
Sheikh Hasina, whose father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman led Bangladesh to independence in 1971, left the nation amid rising tensions last August. Exiled in India along with numerous high-ranking party officials, she and others face allegations of violence against protestors opposing her prolonged tenure.
A report by the United Nations earlier this year alleged that as many as 1,400 people might have perished in anti-government demonstrations but cautioned against banning political parties, which could hinder the restoration of a functional multi-party democracy.
The Awami League has faced mounting pressure since Hasinaโs removal from power, with frequent attacks on its offices and accusations that the interim government is backing assaults on its supporters. Thousands of its affiliates have reportedly been detained, and there have been fatalities among them.
Muhammad Yunus, the interim government head, noted that the elections are likely to occur either in December or next June, marking a critical juncture for Bangladeshโs political landscape.
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