Bangladesh Interim Govt To 'Bar' Awami League From 'Political Participation’ In Fresh Blow To Sheikh Hasina

The Bangladesh interim government, led by chief adviser Muhammad Yunus, is set to bar ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League and other like-minded parties from ‘political participation’ in the country.

Hasina’s political party will likely face administrative and legal roadblocks on its involvement in political activities, said Mahfuj Alam, special assistant to chief adviser Yunus, The Daily Star reported.

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, 84, became Bangladesh’s interim government’s Chief Adviser on August 8 after Prime Minister Hasina fled to India on August 5 following student-led protests against quotas for government jobs flared into nationwide unrest.

“Those who had taken part in the last three elections and come to parliament illegally deceived the people, and the interim government will, of course, put obstacles to their political participation,” said Alam.

Yunus held a meeting with 10 political parties who reportedly demanded ban on Awami League’s participation in the upcoming national elections. In the elections held in January, Hasina emerged victorious for the fourth consecutive time, breaking all records in country’s electoral history.

According to reports, members of 14 parties, considered to be allies of the Awami League, were not part of these discussions or any conversation about the upcoming elections.

When asked about banning the party from elections, Alam said, “The government will not take the decision unilaterally,” and that a unanimous decision will be taken after consulting with different political parties.

Last month, Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jamaat-e-Islami—both arch rivals of the Awami League had said ‘no’ to banning Hasina’s party, reported Press Trust of India.