The interim government on Saturday night banned all activities of the Bangladesh Awami League, following days of mounting protests led by student groups and political activists demanding action against the party鈥檚 alleged role in past atrocities.
The decision was made during a special session of the advisory council, chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at his official residence in Jamuna in the capital.
Law adviser Asif Nazrul addresses a press briefing in front of chief adviser鈥檚 official residence Jamuna after attending an emergency meeting of the council of advisers on Saturday. 鈥� Photo courtesy: Chief adviser鈥檚 press wing.
The meeting also approved amendments to the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, allowing for the prosecution of political parties, their affiliated organisations.
鈥楾he amendment now has the scope to bring any politcial parrty and its affiliated organisations under trial,鈥� said Law Adviser Asif Nazrul at a press briefing following the meeting.
He added that under the Anti-Terrorism Act, all activities of the Awami League 鈥� including those in cyberspace 鈥� would remain suspended until the completion of its leaders' trials before the International Crimes Tribunal.
According to a statement from the Chief Adviser鈥檚 press office, the decision was made 鈥榯o protect national security and sovereignty, ensure the safety of July Movement activists, and safeguard plaintiffs and witnesses engaged in ongoing trials.鈥�
The ban comes amid escalating protests that began Thursday night and spread across Dhaka.
Demonstrators, led by National Consensus Party (NCP) leaders Nahid Islam and Hasnat Abdullah, first gathered outside the Chief Adviser鈥檚 residence before moving to Shahbagh, a hub of political mobilisation in Dhaka.
The protesters put forward a series of demands: they called for the Awami League and its affiliates to be declared terrorist organisations and banned; for the International Crimes Tribunal Act to be amended to prosecute political parties as collective entities; and for the immediate issuance of a formal 鈥楯uly Proclamation鈥�.
The advisory council responded by announcing that the July Declaration would be finalised and made public within the next 30 working days.
Protesters rejoice at Shahbagh in the capital on Saturday after the government imposes ban on political activities of the Awami League and its front organisations until the trial of the party and its leaders for July carnage. 鈥� Sony Ramani
The protests have drawn widespread participation from students, victims of political violence, and activists from a wide ideological spectrum.
Groups represented at the rallies included Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, Islami Chhatra Andolan Bangladesh, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, Inquilab Mancha, Hefazat-e Islam Bangladesh, Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad, and the Amar Bangladesh Party.
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