Last year, the interim government of Bangladesh, led by Muhammad Yunus, had imposed a ban on all activities of the Bangladesh Awami League and its affiliates through the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance 2025. The new government, headed by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is now reportedly aiming to make this ban permanent.
Anwar A. Khan, a political analyst in Dhaka, expressed concerns over the potential consequences of this move, highlighting the risk of criminalizing and potentially eradicating the Bangladesh Awami League, the country’s founding political party. He views this as a constitutional crisis rather than just a political rivalry.
The proposed action by the BNP-led government has raised questions about democratic principles in Bangladesh. Khan points out that the Constitution of Bangladesh emphasizes democratic values, including pluralism, participation, and the rule of law. He underscores the importance of upholding fundamental rights, such as the right to peaceful assembly and the formation of associations, which encompass political party activities.
According to Khan, the proposal to subject a major political party to severe penalties, including imprisonment, goes against the spirit of the constitutional guarantees of democratic governance. He argues that such measures amount to repression rather than legitimate regulation, contradicting the principles of democracy enshrined in the country’s Constitution.
