Wed Dec 24 06:20:57 UTC 2025: ## U.S. Lawmakers Express Concern Over Political Ban in Bangladesh Ahead of Elections
NEW YORK, December 24, 2025 – A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has voiced strong concerns regarding the recent ban on the Awami League political party in Bangladesh, led by deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The ban, implemented under the Anti-Terrorism Act 2025, comes just months before elections scheduled for early next year.
In a letter addressed to Mohammed Yunus, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s Interim Government, Representatives Gregory Meeks, Bill Huizenga, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Julie Johnson, and Tom Suozzi urged the government to reconsider the ban and ensure free and fair elections where all political parties can participate.
The lawmakers emphasized the importance of the interim government working with all parties to foster an environment conducive to a democratic process. They also expressed apprehension that the ban, along with the potential resumption of the International Crimes Tribunal, would undermine the integrity of state institutions and further erode public confidence.
The letter referenced past elections in Bangladesh, particularly the 2018 and 2024 general elections, which international observers, including the U.S. State Department, deemed neither free nor fair. They also cited a UN report estimating that security forces killed 1,400 people during protests last year, urging accountability for these acts based on the values of democracy.
“Ultimately, the Bangladeshi people deserve to be able to choose an elected government in a free and fair election in which all political parties can participate so that their voices are represented,” the lawmakers concluded, expressing hope that the ban will be revisited by the current government or its elected successor.
The Awami League and its affiliated organizations were banned until the International Crimes Tribunal completes the trial of its leaders and activists. This action has sparked international scrutiny and heightened concerns about the state of democracy in Bangladesh.
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