Government issues gazette to ban all activities of Awami League
NEWS DESK
The Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday issued a gazette notification banning all activities of the Awami League (AL), along with its front, associate, and affiliated organisations.
“Until the trial of the leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Awami League and all its front, associate, and affiliated organisations is completed at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), all activities—including any form of publication in the media, online or on social media, as well as all kinds of campaigns, processions, meetings, gatherings, and conferences—are hereby prohibited,” the gazette states.
“This order takes immediate effect,” it added.
The gazette was signed by Senior Home Secretary Nasimul Ghani and was issued by order of the President.
The document states that from the formation of the Awami League-led government on 6 January 2009 until its ouster following the student-public uprising on 5 August 2024, the party and its affiliated organisations carried out a “reign of terror” across the country. These actions allegedly included attacks, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, torture, and sexual violence against political opponents and dissenters.
The gazette further claims that between 15 July and 5 August 2024, the Awami League and its affiliated bodies engaged in a series of oppressive and terrorist acts, including murder, arson, genocide, illegal detentions, torture, looting, and other crimes against humanity, aimed at suppressing the mass uprising. These allegations, it said, have been substantiated by both domestic and international reports.
It notes that numerous cases related to these allegations are currently pending before the ICT and other criminal courts in the country.
The government alleges that in an effort to obstruct these legal proceedings, Awami League leaders and activists—many of whom are now fugitives abroad—have been attempting to destabilize the country. This includes inciting violence, attacking students and protestors, distributing anti-state leaflets, spreading provocative content on social media, and damaging public and private property.
“These activities have threatened national sovereignty and public security, instilled fear among plaintiffs and witnesses, and sought to obstruct justice. There is growing concern over a potential deterioration of law and order across the country,” the gazette notes.
The government also states it has “sufficient evidence” that the Awami League and its affiliated organisations are involved in “criminal activities and conspiracies similar to those of terrorist organisations,” with the intent to destabilize the state and spread public fear.
“In light of the above, the government reasonably believes it is necessary to prohibit all activities of the party and its affiliated organisations until the conclusion of trials at the ICT, in accordance with the powers conferred by the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, and Section 18(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009,” the gazette concludes.
