The government has ruled out banning the Awami League through an executive or administrative order, saying the party’s political future will instead be determined through judicial proceedings under Bangladesh’s amended International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) and Anti-Terrorism laws.
Speaking at a discussion marking the anniversary of the July 2024 mass uprising at Dhaka University on Wednesday, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said the government wants the fate of the former ruling party to be decided “through a completely legal and judicial process” rather than by executive action.
“We are not in favour of banning any political party through an administrative or executive order,” he said.
“We want the political future of this organisation to be determined through a completely legal and judicial process.”
The minister said recent amendments to the International Crimes Tribunal Act and the Anti-Terrorism Act have created legal grounds to prosecute both former prime minister Sheikh Hasina as an individual and the Awami League as an organisation.
Referring to Article 47 of the Constitution, he said Bangladeshi law provides for trying organisations accused of genocide and crimes against humanity.
Drawing a comparison with the post-World War II Nuremberg Trials, Salahuddin Ahmed argued that political organisations cannot evade responsibility if crimes are committed through state institutions under their authority.
He alleged that the Awami League had shown neither remorse nor offered an apology for the killings during the July-August 2024 uprising and instead continued efforts to return to politics through what he described as negative propaganda.
The home minister also reiterated the government’s commitment to bringing Sheikh Hasina back to Bangladesh to face trial.
He said the interim government had formally requested her return under the existing extradition treaty and maintained that she would be arrested upon her return and produced before the court.
According to the minister, the government is also pursuing Interpol arrest warrants against former ministers, members of parliament and officials currently abroad.
On broader political reforms, Salahuddin Ahmed said the government remains committed to constitutional and institutional changes aimed at preventing any future return to authoritarian rule.
He said reform proposals contained in the BNP’s 31-point program and the recently signed National July Charter envision changes to the Constitution and other laws to strengthen democratic governance.
Calling for national unity, the minister said the July uprising belonged to the people rather than any single political party.
“The credit for the July Revolution does not belong to anyone alone,” he said. “The people of this country stood against fascism together.”
He also said Ganabhaban is being converted into a July Memorial Museum so future generations can learn from the consequences of authoritarian rule.
