Sun Jan 26 02:08:10 UTC 2025: ## Bangladesh’s Ruling Party Banned From Upcoming Elections

**DHAKA, BANGLADESH** – The Awami League, Bangladesh’s deposed ruling party, has been barred from participating in the upcoming general elections, a key advisor to the interim government announced Saturday. Mahfuz Alam, a leader of the Anti-Discrimination Movement that spearheaded the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last August, stated that only “pro-Bangladesh” groups, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islam, would be allowed to contest.

Alam, a de facto minister in the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, cited the need for institutional reforms following what he described as the destruction of institutions under Hasina’s rule. He insisted that elections would not be held until these reforms are implemented. The Awami League, with many of its leaders jailed or in exile, has been largely absent from the political scene since August 2024.

While the BNP, a rival party, has opposed banning any political party, it also advocates for swift elections following minimal reforms. Concerns have been raised about the length of time these reforms might take, with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir suggesting the process could span a decade. Further controversy surrounds the possibility of a new youth-led party being formed by advisors within the interim government. Some advisors have even suggested resigning to actively participate in future elections.

The interim government, headed by Muhammad Yunus, has indicated elections could be held by the end of 2025 or the first half of 2026, contingent upon achieving political consensus and completing necessary reforms.

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