At least 11 leaders and activists of the Awami League were arrested on Sunday afternoon when they tried to enter the party headquarters on Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital defying the government ban on its activities.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police detective branch joint commissioner for South and聽 Administration Mohamamd Nasirul Islam said that a DB team arrested them at about 5:30pm.
鈥榃e have taken them into DB custody. They organised a procession and went there together. None could enter the office,鈥� he added.
A video clip showed that 25-30 AL leaders and activists brought out a procession in Paltan area and marched towards Bangabandhu Avenue protesting at the ban on the party activities.
They also urged interim government chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus to pardon the AL president and ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
On May 12, the Bangladesh interim government issued a gazette notification imposing ban on all activities of the Bangladesh Awami League and its affiliated, associate and like-minded organisations until the completion of the ongoing trial proceedings against the party鈥檚 leaders and activists at the International Crimes Tribunal.
According to a notification issued by the Political Branch of the Public Security Division under the ministry of home affairs, the ban that came into effect immediately would cover all forms of publication, media and social media campaigns, processions, meetings, rallies, and conferences organised by the Awami League and its associate entities.
The home ministry notification said that from January 6, 2009 to August 5, 2024, during its time in office, the Awami League and its affiliates engaged in widespread repression, including enforced disappearances, political killings, torture, arson and crimes against humanity.
Professor Yunus-led interim government assumed office on August 8, three days after the AL regime was ousted amid a student-led mass uprising.
