Bangladesh Officially Bans Awami League Under Revised Anti-Terrorism Law



Bangladesh's interim government has taken the unprecedented step of officially banning the Awami League, the country's oldest political party, under a hastily revised anti-terrorism law. The ban, announced on Monday, May 13, 2025, marks a dramatic escalation in the Muhammad Yunus-led government's efforts to reshape Bangladesh's political landscape following the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year. The move effectively disbands the party that ruled Bangladesh for 16 years and prevents it from participating in future elections.


Ban Implementation and Legal Framework

The interim government issued a gazette notification officially banning all activities of the Awami League and its affiliated organizations under the newly amended Anti-Terrorism Act 2025. Home adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam confirmed the ban during a media briefing on Monday, stating that a formal notification had been issued. According to the notification, the ban will remain in effect until Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) completes trials of Awami League leaders and activists accused of crimes against humanity during last year's anti-government protests.


The legal maneuver was made possible through a significant overnight revision to Bangladesh's anti-terrorism legislation. Section 18 of the revised law now empowers the government to declare any "entity" or organization as terrorist if they are found involved in terrorism based on "reasonable grounds". This represents a critical expansion of the original Anti-Terrorism Act of 2009, which did not include provisions for banning entire organizations.


Electoral Implications

Hours after the government's notification, Bangladesh's Election Commission announced it had suspended the Awami League's registration as a political party. Election Commission Secretary Akhtar Ahmed confirmed the decision, effectively disqualifying the party from contesting future elections. This development comes as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the other major political force in the country, advocates for elections to be held in December 2025.


Political Context and Reactions

The ban represents the culmination of mounting pressure following the violent overthrow of Sheikh Hasina's government in August 2024. Thousands of demonstrators had been demanding the government impose restrictions on the Awami League, with protests occurring for two consecutive days before the ban was announced.


The Awami League has strongly rejected the interim government's decision, vowing to continue its political activities "in an appropriate manner". Through its official account on X (formerly Twitter), the party accused the Yunus-led government of "fostering division within society, suffocating democratic principles, exacerbating ongoing violence against dissenters, and curtailing inclusivity". The party has characterized the ban as an "undemocratic action masked as necessary for the trial of the July-August turmoil."


International Concerns

The United Nations human rights office had previously cautioned against imposing political party bans in Bangladesh. In a February report, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights advised that such actions could hinder the restoration of genuine multi-party democracy and disenfranchise a significant portion of the Bangladeshi electorate. This warning came in the same report that estimated as many as 1,400 individuals may have lost their lives during the three weeks of anti-Hasina protests in July and August 2024.


Scope of the Ban

The comprehensive ban prohibits all Awami League activities, including online engagement, press statements, and public gatherings. President Mohammed Shahabuddin further strengthened these restrictions by promulgating an ordinance that bans any form of publicity or expression of support for individuals or entities charged under Section 18(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act.


This prohibition extends to press statements, social media content, and public gatherings in support of such individuals or entities. The revised law has broadened the scope of restrictions by replacing references to "listed individuals or banned entities" with a more general phrase covering "any individual or entity against whom action has been taken".


Historical Context

The ban on the Awami League comes approximately nine months after the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024, following widespread student-led protests against her government. Hasina, who has since been in exile in India, and many senior members of her party face allegations of orchestrating violence against protesters during these demonstrations.


The Awami League is Bangladesh's oldest political party and has been a dominant force in the country's politics since independence. Its founder, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (Sheikh Hasina's father), is revered as the father of the nation for his role in Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan in 1971.


Political Future

Bangladesh's political landscape is now at a pivotal moment. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party is pressing the interim government for a definitive electoral roadmap, with the government indicating that elections could be held either in December 2025 or June 2026, depending on the extent of political reforms undertaken.


Meanwhile, other political organizations are seeking to fill the vacuum. Gono Odhikar Parishad, another political party, has urged the Election Commission to cancel the registration of not just the Awami League but also other members of the former 14-party alliance, including the Jatiya Party.



The unprecedented ban on the Awami League represents a seismic shift in Bangladesh's political landscape. As the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus continues its efforts to reshape the country's political system following Sheikh Hasina's fall from power, questions remain about the long-term implications for Bangladesh's democracy, political stability, and international standing. The coming months will likely reveal whether this controversial move contributes to a more inclusive political environment or further deepens divisions within the South Asian nation.

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