Tue May 13 17:20:25 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**India Expresses Concern as Bangladesh Bans Awami League, Sheikh Hasina Remains in Exile**

**Dhaka – May 13, 2025** – The political landscape of Bangladesh has taken a dramatic turn as the nation’s Election Commission suspended the registration of the Awami League (AL), the political party of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, barring it from participating in future elections. This decision, following a ban imposed by the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has prompted concern from India, highlighting the complex regional dynamics.

The Awami League, Bangladesh’s oldest political party and a key player in the country’s 1971 liberation war, was banned on Sunday pending the outcome of a trial related to its crackdown on mass protests last year, which led to Hasina’s ouster. The United Nations estimates that up to 1,400 protesters died during the government’s efforts to suppress the opposition.

Hasina, 77, currently remains in self-imposed exile in India and has defied an arrest warrant issued by Dhaka on charges of crimes against humanity.

“The ban on the Awami League is a concerning development,” stated Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal in New Delhi. “We strongly support the holding of free, fair, and inclusive elections in Bangladesh.”

According to Akhtar Ahmed, senior secretary of the Bangladesh Election Commission, the suspension was prompted by a recommendation from the home ministry, which has prohibited all organizational activities of the Awami League and its affiliated organizations.

Mr. Yunus, 84, has indicated that parliamentary elections will be held as early as December and no later than June 2026.

The Election Commission has also issued a directive prohibiting the Awami League and its affiliates from engaging in political activities, including rallies and conferences, until the International Crimes Tribunal completes its proceedings. This court was established by Hasina in 2009 to investigate crimes committed during the 1971 war of independence.

This marks the third time the Awami League has been banned, previously occurring in 1971 under Pakistani military rule and in 1975 under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The situation is being closely monitored by regional observers, particularly in India, given the potential implications for regional stability and democratic processes.

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