In a major political shift, the Awami League, the nation's former ruling party led by ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has been completely banned from all of its activities by Bangladesh's interim government, which is led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus. The ruling, which was made public late Saturday, is based on the country's Anti-Terrorism Act and covers the party's offline and internet activities.
The prohibition comes after Hasina was ousted from office in August 2024 as a result of massive demonstrations and civil strife. The ban will stay in place until a special tribunal wraps up trials against the Awami League and its leaders over their alleged role in the deaths of hundreds during anti-government protests in July and August of last year, said Asif Nazrul, legal affairs adviser to the interim government.
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) now has the authority to bring charges against political parties and organizations involved in crimes against humanity in addition to individuals. The Awami League and opposition parties are among many who have criticized this action, seeing it as a repression of political dissent.
In order to maintain democratic processes, the UN human rights office has cautioned against banning political parties and has previously documented up to 1,400 deaths during the protests.
The actions of the interim government continue to provoke discussion about how to strike a balance between democratic liberties and national security as the country negotiates this complicated political environment. Follow REAL BREAKING NEWS for ongoing updates on this unfolding story.
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