'Awami League ban in Bangladesh without due process is concerning': India

NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday expressed serious concern over the political developments in Bangladesh, following the official disbanding of the Awami League, led by deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, under a hastily revised anti-terrorism law.The ministry of external affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "The ban on the Awami League (in Bangladesh) without due process is a concerning development. As a democracy, India is naturally concerned at curtailment of democratic freedoms and shrinking political space. We strongly support the early holding of free, fair and inclusive elections in Bangladesh."The MEA’s remarks came after India's successful conduct of its major counterterrorism military campaign, Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7 against Pakistan-backed terror infrastructure.On Monday, Bangladesh’s home adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam announced at a media briefing that a gazette notification had been issued to formally outlaw the Awami League and its affiliated groups under the newly amended Anti-Terrorism Act, 2025.A senior official from Bangladesh’s home ministry explained that the ban will remain in place until the International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh (ICT-BD) completes trials of Awami League leaders and activists. The updated legislation now allows the government to ban not just individuals but also organisations deemed to be involved in terrorism.This power stems from Section 18 of the revised act, which was absent from the original 2009 version of the law.In a further blow to the former ruling party, the Election Commission of Bangladesh announced it had revoked the Awami League’s registration, thereby disqualifying it from contesting future elections.The sweeping crackdown follows accusations of mass human rights violations by Awami League leaders during last year’s student-led protests, which culminated in the ouster of Sheikh Hasina's 16-year rule on August 5, 2024. The United Nations reported that between July 15 and August 15, approximately 1,400 people were killed, many allegedly victims of retaliatory violence targeting Awami League supporters and police forces.On Saturday, the interim administration in Bangladesh led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus officially banned "all activities of Awami League", including its digital presence, citing provisions of the revised anti-terror law.Sheikh Hasina and her senior party leaders face charges of "crimes against humanity," including mass killings and enforced disappearances, particularly during their attempts to suppress last year’s mass protests.Founded in 1949, the Awami League has been central to Bangladesh’s political history, having spearheaded the autonomy movement in then East Pakistan and playing a key role in the country’s 1971 Liberation War.