Abdullah Yousuf, Suprovat Sydney: In a landmark move, Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus, has imposed a comprehensive ban on the Bangladesh Awami League (BAL) and all its affiliated and associated bodies. The ban encompasses all forms of organizational activity, including digital presence, and will remain in effect until the conclusion of ongoing trials for crimes against humanity and genocide at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT).
The decision, formalized through a gazette notification issued by the Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday, 10 May 2025, was taken under the Anti-Terrorism Ordinance. The ruling follows the party’s alleged involvement in systematic violence during the July 2024 mass uprising, which ultimately led to the ouster of former fascist Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed.
On 12 February 2025, the United Nations issued a press statement condemning grave human rights violations committed in Bangladesh during the 2024 student-led protests. According to a report by the UN Human Rights Office, “Bangladesh’s former government, along with its security and intelligence agencies and violent affiliates linked to the Awami League party, systematically perpetrated a wide range of serious human rights abuses.” The report, based on testimonies from senior officials and corroborating evidence, also concluded that there was an official policy to target and violently suppress anti-government protesters and their supporters. These findings raise significant concerns regarding potential crimes against humanity, warranting immediate and thorough criminal investigations.
Please refer to the UN press release titled “Bangladesh: UN report finds brutal, systematic repression of protests, calls for justice for serious rights violations”, available at: 🔗https://bangladesh.un.org/en/289108-bangladesh-un-report-finds-brutal-systematic-repression-protests-calls-justice-serious
The full report, published by the UN Human Rights Office on 12 February 2025, is titled:
“OHCHR Fact-Finding Report: Human Rights Violations and Abuses related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh”
The ban is one of the most significant developments in Bangladesh’s contemporary political history and signals a dramatic shift in the country’s governance landscape. It has been widely welcomed by civil society, rights organizations, and political opponents of the Awami League, particularly Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), the National Citizens Party (NCP), and other conservative and nationalist platforms.
Allegations of Atrocities
The Awami League and its affiliated groups face serious allegations stemming from a nationwide crackdown between July 15 and August 5, 2024, in response to a student-led pro-democracy movement. Documented accusations include enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, mass rapes, torture, arson, looting, and targeted violence against opposition activists and dissenters.
The Bangladesh Awami League has consistently demonstrated traits of a militant and authoritarian organization since its early days. Its operational style closely mirrors that of a fascist regime, relying on intimidation, violence, and entrenched criminal networks to maintain power and suppress dissent.
We strongly encourage all stakeholders, researchers, and human rights advocates to consult the comprehensive research report titled “Bangladesh Awami League: A Case Study of its Militant Politics and Crimes Against Humanity”, published by the South Asian Policy Initiative on 1 October 2023.
📄 Read the full report here: https://southasianpolicyinitiative.org/2023/07/25/r-4/
International media outlets such as Reuters, The Guardian, and Al Jazeera have also reported on these incidents, citing credible sources and eyewitness testimonies. Investigations are ongoing, and initial findings have led to the formal indictment of multiple senior party leaders.
“UK anti-corruption minister resigns amid Bangladeshi corruption probe into her family”
“Tulip Siddiq, whose aunt is Bangladesh’s recently ousted leader, also faced questions over her family’s London properties.” By Sam Ellefson, published on 17 January 2025 by International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, available at:https://www.icij.org/investigations/panama-papers/uk-anti-corruption-minister-resigns-amid-bangladeshi-corruption-probe-into-her-family/
“Bangladeshi Politician Close to Prime Minister Hasina Secretly Owns Over $4 Million in New York Real Estate”
Published on 13 January 2025, Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, available at: https://www.occrp.org/en/investigation/bangladeshi-politician-close-to-prime-minister-hasina-secretly-owns-over-4-million-in-new-york-real-estate
White Paper: Tk 28 trillion laundered during Awami League rule”
Published on 2 December 2024, ProthomAlo (a Bangladeshi national daily), available at: https://en.prothomalo.com/business/local/yur9qsg81m
“Keir Starmer met ousted Awami League figure last month”
“Sir Keir Starmer met a senior member of Bangladesh’s ousted ruling party last month, despite the Awami League facing accusations of embezzlement and of allowing its security forces to kill protesters.” Published on 11 January 2025, Financial Times, available at: https://www.ft.com/content/0c792052-2501-441c-b965-f7cfe77d911b
Organizations Banned
The ban extends to all known sister organizations and ideological affiliates of the Awami League. These include:
- Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) – Student Wing
- Bangladesh Jubo League – Youth Wing
- Bangladesh Mohila Awami League – Women’s Wing
- Bangladesh Krishak League – Farmers’ Wing
- Bangladesh Jatiya Sramik League – Workers’ Wing
- Bangladesh Awami Swechchhasebak League – Volunteer Wing
The BCL was previously designated a “Terrorist organization” in October 2024 for its role in violent attacks, including rape, extortion, and use of firearms against peaceful demonstrators.
Additionally, diaspora-based entities such as the
- Bangabandhu Parishad and
- Bangabandhu Council, known to propagate BAL ideology abroad, have also come under scrutiny for misusing the Liberation War narrative to advance political interests.
A Party with a Long History
The Awami League was originally founded as the East Pakistan Awami Muslim League on June 23, 1949, at the Rose Garden Palace in Dhaka, under the leadership of Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani and Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy. The word “Muslim” was later removed in 1955 to reflect a more secular political vision.
Once a symbol of East Pakistan’s autonomy movement, the party evolved over decades into one of the dominant political forces in Bangladesh. However, critics argue that in recent years it has degenerated into an authoritarian entity characterized by rampant corruption, violent repression, and personality cultism.
Global Cultural Infiltration
Concerns have also emerged about cultural and ideological influence campaigns carried out by Awami League sympathizers abroad. Under the guise of social, cultural, or professional events, business such as Boishakhi Melas—these groups allegedly manipulate Liberation War narratives to promote partisan agendas. Observers describe this as a form of “cultural invasion,” threatening the integrity of diaspora communities and host nations alike.
Public Response
The ban has been celebrated by large segments of the population, especially among the youth and student movements who led the 2024 protests. Many see it as a long-overdue step toward political accountability and national healing.
“The decision is not just political—it is moral,” said USA prominent human rights activist. “It signals the beginning of a new chapter for Bangladesh.”
Calls are growing for strict enforcement of the ban and increased vigilance against attempts to circumvent the ruling under different banners.
Conclusion
The move to ban the Awami League and its affiliates is a significant moment in the country’s political evolution. While some international observers await the final outcome of the ICT proceedings, most civil society groups view the interim government’s action as a courageous and necessary measure to restore democratic order and human dignity in Bangladesh.
Sources:
Reuters: