Tue May 13 17:20:25 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:

**Summary:**

The interim government of Bangladesh, led by Prof. Mohammed Yunus, has banned the Awami League, the country’s oldest political party, triggering a response from India. India expressed concern, stating the ban was a “concerning development” and urged for inclusive elections. Dhaka responded, defending the ban by saying that the Awami League era was a “kleptocratic rule” and “severely squeezed” Bangladesh’s political space and “compromised” its sovereignty and asserting its sovereign right to manage its internal affairs and elections. The Awami League, founded in 1949, faces allegations of past crimes against humanity, while its former leader, Sheikh Hasina, is currently in self-imposed exile in India and wanted on an arrest warrant.

**News Article:**

**India Expresses Concern Over Ban on Awami League in Bangladesh, Dhaka Responds Firmly**

*New Delhi, May 13, 2025* – India has voiced concerns over the recent ban on the Awami League, Bangladesh’s oldest political party, by the country’s interim government. The move, announced on May 12th, has drawn a sharp response from New Delhi, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) describing the development as a “concerning matter.”

“The ban on the Awami League without due process is a concerning development,” stated MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. “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 Awami League, founded in 1949 and a key force in Bangladesh’s independence movement, had governed Bangladesh for 15 years until Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was overthrown in August 2024. Ms. Hasina, 77, remains in self-imposed exile in India and faces an arrest warrant from Dhaka related to alleged crimes against humanity.

The interim government, led by Prof. Mohammed Yunus, has defended its decision. Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to Prof. Yunus, stated the Awami League era was a “kleptocratic rule” and “severely squeezed” Bangladesh’s political space and “compromised” its sovereignty. He described the Awami League era as a “kleptocratic rule” and said the ban was necessary for national security.

“Elections are entirely our internal matter. We urge all to respect the sovereign will of our people in matters relating to elections,” said Mr. Alam, adding the Awami League had conducted “grossly farcical elections” in the past.

Prof. Yunus has announced elections will be held in Bangladesh in December 2025. The ban on the Awami League raises questions about the inclusivity and fairness of those upcoming elections, which India is closely monitoring.

Read More