London/Dhaka, August 9, 2025 — Two prominent British barristers, Steven Powles KC and Alex Tinsley of Doughty Street Chambers, have submitted a Request for Urgent Action to the UN Independent Expert on the Promotion of a Democratic International Order and several other UN Special Rapporteurs, challenging the legality and legitimacy of the Bangladesh Awami League’s ban from politics.
The appeal, filed on behalf of Sheikh Hasina, President of the Awami League and former Prime Minister, condemns the “unjustifiable” prohibition imposed by the interim administration led by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, who assumed power on August 8, 2024 following the ouster of Hasina’s government.
According to the submission, since Dr. Yunus took office, Awami League supporters, affiliates, and minority communities have faced widespread and systematic attacks across Bangladesh. The lawyers allege that such violence has been met with complete impunity, as the interim authorities have granted blanket immunity to perpetrators.
In May 2025, the interim government banned the Awami League from participating in any elections and curtailed all its political activities pending proceedings before the Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal against its senior leaders.
The urgent appeal asserts that the ban violates fundamental human rights, the rule of law, and the principles of democracy, and calls on UN experts to demand that the Yunus administration:
- Lift the ban on the Awami League.
- Allow full political participation of the party in upcoming polls.
- Hold free and fair elections without delay—well ahead of the currently promised date of February 2026.
While the interim government has pledged to conduct elections in early 2026, observers note uncertainty over whether that commitment will be honored. The appeal emphasizes that the Awami League remains one of Bangladesh’s most popular political forces and must be allowed to compete on an equal footing.
The UN experts are expected to review the request in the coming weeks, but it remains unclear whether the interim authorities will respond or modify their position.
