Bangladesh has decided to ban all activities of the ruling Awami League headed by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, including its online presence, under the Anti-Terrorism Act until ongoing trials for alleged war crimes of the party and its leaders are concluded.
The decision was made on Saturday (May 10, 2025) at a special meeting of the Advisory Council of the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government in Bangladesh. The council also approved an amendment to the International Crimes Tribunal Act, allowing the tribunal to penalise political parties, their affiliated organisations, and supporters.
According to the resolution adopted in the meeting, the ban is intended to safeguard national security and sovereignty, ensure the protection of leaders and activists of the July Movement, and guarantee the safety of plaintiffs and witnesses associated with the International Crimes Tribunal.
An official notification regarding the ban will be issued on the next working day.
The Advisory Council also resolved to finalise and publish the July Declaration within the next 30 working days.
Ms. Hasina and many of her senior party colleagues have been accused of murder in many cases after her ouster last year. Ms. Hasina has been in exile in India since Aug. 5 as her official residence was stormed by protesters soon after she left the country.
The United Nations human rights office in a report said in February that up to 1,400 people may have been killed during three weeks of anti-Hasina protest.
Saturday night’s dramatic decision came after thousands of protesters, including supporters of a newly formed political party by students, took to the streets in Dhaka and issued an ultimatum to ban the Awami League party by Saturday night. The members of the student wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami party also prominently took part in the protest.
(with inputs from AP)
Published - May 11, 2025 05:42 am IST
