Bangladesh has been observing a significant transformation since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid after a student uprising. The interim government has taken numerous steps to put an end to the controversial legacy of the former government. However, the recent ban on the Awami League could lead the country to political turmoil.

Awami League is known as the founding party of Bangladesh, as it launched a freedom movement against the military regime of Pakistan. The party succeeded in carving out a separate nation out of Pakistan for the Bengali people. However, after more than 5 decades of the inception of Bangladesh, the party has been banned by the interim government. The party holds a history of resisting such bans in the past. The Awami League was banned in 1971 by the then President General of Pakistan, Yahya Khan, due to political turmoil and his covert alliance with the opposition party, Pakistan Peoples Party, leading to the disintegration of the Eastern wing of the country.

In 1975, the then Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rehman banned all political parties, including his own Awami League. He established a one-party system in the country under his newly created Baksal party. However, his assassination by the end of 1975 created many obstacles for the Awami League and Baksal party. His daughter Sheikh Hasina Wajid revived the Awami League through her political struggles and protests. She managed to win the 1996 election due to his party’s popularity in the country. She again assumed power in 2009 and continued to rule the country till 2024. Hasina’s popularity in the country dwindled due to allegations of corruption and unpopular decisions. The Monsoon revolution, led by the students, resulted in her ouster from the government.

Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the interim Chief Advisor of Bangladesh, banned the Awami League in May 2025. However, this move will have significant impacts on the political landscape of the country. Despite severe allegations and autocratic policies of Hasina Wajid, the party holds strong support in the country. The government has banned all sorts of political activities of the party, including its online presence. The interim government has stated that the Awami League will remain prohibited until the conclusion of the ongoing trials of genocide, corruption, and crimes against humanity. The student wing of the party, Bangladesh Chhatra Party (BCL), has already been facing a ban since October 2024.

The recent move came after Jamaat e Islami and the National Citizen’s Party demanded a ban on the Awami League due to the Hasina government’s crackdown on a student uprising in 2024, leading to the killing of around 1400 protestors. However, the efficacy of this ban is highly questionable as the country already has a history of banning political parties for the ruling party’s interests.

The move will also have a detrimental impact on the country’s relations with India. The latter has condemned this decision, citing it as a means to undermine democracy and promote exclusive politics in the country. Scores of Bangladeshi patients are treated in India due to the fraternal ties between the two countries. India has already imposed visa restrictions on Bangladesh due to the country’s growing alignment with Pakistan and China. New Delhi’s trade restrictions on Bangladesh can further exacerbate the economic predicament of the country.

The Awami League’s ban in Bangladesh will create an ideological vacuum that Jamaat e Islami, NCP, or BNP will attempt to fulfil. However, this ban does not mean that the League is dead. It holds strong support in several regions in Bangladesh. Moreover, the Hasina administration has also appointed several of its supporters to key bureaucratic positions in the country. Moreover, the Awami League is known for its nationalistic narrative. Therefore, it could rise again using this narrative again.

The ban on the Awami League has many other significant implications. It raises serious concerns over the credibility of the interim setup, as it has no mandate to ban any political party or take any other major policy decisions. Furthermore, the ban on the party after pressure from Jamaat e Islami and NCP demonstrates the fragility of the interim government. People and political leadership have also raised their concerns over the intentions of Caretaker Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus to delay elections.

Reports suggest that there is a growing rift between the interim government and the deep state over the increasing influence of the religious groups in the country. Moreover, the BNP is demanding general elections by the end of this year. However, the interim government has not announced any such plan and is allegedly planning to prolong its rule, which could plunge the country into unprecedented chaos and political turmoil. The interim government needs to acknowledge that political inclusiveness and impartiality are mandatory for the prosperity of the country.

?bbas Hashemite – is a political observer and research analyst for regional and global geopolitical issues.  He is currently working as an independent researcher and journalist. Courtesy

https://journal-neo.su/2025/06/29/the-ban-on-awami-league-implications-for-bangladeshs-political-future/