The government has issued an official gazette notification banning all activities of the Awami League. The notification was published on Monday (May 12), confirmed by Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury.
The gazette, signed by Senior Secretary Nasimul Gani, states that since forming the government on January 6, 2009, until its ousting amid a mass student-public uprising on August 5, 2024, the Bangladesh Awami League, along with all its affiliated, associated, and fraternal organizations, established a reign of terror across the country.
This included attacks, abductions, murders, killings, torture, and rape against opposition political party members and dissenting voices.
The notification further details that during the student-public movement from July 15 to August 5, 2024, the Awami League and its wings were accused of enforced disappearances, murders, burning people alive, genocide, illegal detentions, inhumane torture, looting, arson, terrorist activities, and crimes against humanity.
These allegations have been substantiated in both national and international reports. Numerous cases are currently pending against leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliates in the International Crimes Tribunal and the country's criminal courts.
According to the gazette, since August 5, 2024, the Awami League and its associated organizations have been involved in attacks against student-public demonstrators, organizing provocative rallies, distributing anti-state leaflets, and engaging in criminal speeches on social media by their exiled leader and other members.
These activities also included attempts to damage personal and state property, posing a threat to national sovereignty and security, creating fear among plaintiffs and witnesses of ongoing cases, disrupting justice, and significantly deteriorating the country's law and order situation.
The notification mentions that the government possesses sufficient evidence that the Awami League and its affiliated organizations are involved in various illegal activities and conspiracies similar to terrorist organizations, aiming to destabilize the state and instill fear among the public.
Therefore, the government justifiably believes that under the powers vested in Section 18(1) of the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 and the Anti-Terrorism Act 2009, it is appropriate to declare a ban on all activities of the Awami League and its affiliates until the completion of the trials against its leaders and activists in the International Crimes Tribunal.
The gazette also declares that until the completion of the trials in the International Crimes Tribunal, all forms of publication, media coverage, online and social media promotion, rallies, meetings, conferences, or any activities organized by the Awami League and its affiliates are strictly prohibited.
As per the President's order, this decision is to be implemented with immediate effect.
