Awami League ban: Did Yunus govt give in to street politics pressures?

India Today

12-05-2025

In a dramatic turn of events, the interim government of Bangladesh has announced a sweeping ban on the activities of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League under the country's anti-terrorism law. This includes a prohibition on all political operations, online presence and organisational activity, pending the trial of the party and its leaders at the International Crimes Tribunal (Bangladesh) (ICT).A press release issued by the government late on May 9 declared: 'The council of advisers decided to ban all activities of the Awami League, including in the cyber-space, under the anti-terrorism law in the interests of security and sovereignty of the country, the security of the leaders and workers of the July [2024] uprising and the plaintiff and witnesses of the International Crimes Tribunal.'advertisementThe same statement also indicated that a new political framework, known as the 'July Declaration', would be finalised and published within the next 30 working days.This unprecedented move follows closely on the heels of mounting public and political pressure, most notably from the National Citizen Party (NCP), whose southern chief organiser Hasnat Abdullah had issued an ultimatum earlier in the evening. Hasnat demanded that the interim government declare a concrete roadmap to outlaw the Awami League within the hour, threatening a mass mobilisation otherwise.'We want to clearly tell the advisers not to make any delay in banning the Awami League. We still have belief in you. You just ban Awami League,' Hasnat had warned during a charged public address.
When no decision was forthcoming by the stipulated deadline, Hasnat announced the beginning of the 'March to Jamuna'—a reference to the official residence of chief advisor to the government Muhammad Yunus in Dhaka. Protesters immediately began mobilising from Shahbagh to the Rajashik Intersection, the latter cordoned off swiftly by law enforcement in anticipation of possible unrest.advertisementThe events culminated in an emergency meeting of the government's advisory council, chaired by law, justice and parliamentary affairs advisor Asif Nazrul. At around 10:55 pm, Nazrul confirmed the decision to impose a blanket ban on Awami League activities under the anti-terrorism law. The council also approved significant amendments to the country's International Crimes Tribunal Act (ICT Act), enabling the tribunal to prosecute not only individuals but also entire political parties and organisations.Though officially framed as a measure to 'protect the country's security and sovereignty', the swiftness of the government's response, coming mere hours after Hasnat's ultimatum, has triggered speculation about the level of influence the NCP—and its Islamist allies—now wield over state policy.The announcement follows a day-long sit-in and rally convened by the NCP and its affiliates. The sit-in, which began on the night of May 8 and extended until midday May 9, was followed by a four-and-a-half-hour-long rally near the Jamuna residence. A stage was erected at the Minto Road intersection, where a range of political actors—from NCP leaders to representatives of Islamist students' organisations and various platforms born out of the July 2024 movement—delivered fiery speeches demanding outlawing of the Awami League.Observers are questioning whether the interim government, ostensibly independent and technocratic, has given in to populist pressure and allowed itself to be shepherded by the loudest voices on the street. The NCP, while not formally part of the interim authority, has positioned itself as a moral guardian of the post-July political order, frequently invoking nationalist rhetoric and capitalising on the anti-Awami League sentiment that erupted during the July 2024 uprising.advertisementThis raises troubling implications for the principle of neutrality in transitional governance. If the state's most consequential decisions—including a ban on a historic political party—are taken in the shadow of street ultimatums and choreographed rallies, it begs the question of who truly governs.Moreover, while the government has promised to release the 'July Declaration' within 30 days, the lack of transparency regarding its contents fuels concerns about a wholesale restructuring of political norms without due consultation or legal safeguards.The invocation of the anti-terrorism law also sets a potentially dangerous precedent. Critics warn that by applying such sweeping legal instruments against a mainstream political party—regardless of its alleged crimes—the state may be opening a proverbial Pandora's Box of selective justice, where political adversaries can be silenced through broad-brush criminalisation.It is equally notable that the amendment to the ICT Act allows entire parties to be tried. This blurs the line between individual accountability and collective punishment, raising legal and ethical concerns about due process.advertisementIn sum, the decision to ban the Awami League marks a seismic shift in Bangladesh's political landscape, one that could either usher in a new era of accountability or set the stage for authoritarian overreach cloaked in the garb of transitional justice.While the government insists the move was necessary to 'ensure the safety of the leaders and activists of the July Movement' and safeguard the tribunal's process, the broader democratic cost of such a ban remains to be seen. Whether this action signals justice or retribution will likely depend on what comes next, and on whether the July Declaration offers a genuinely inclusive path forward.Subscribe to India Today Magazine