A group of United Nations human rights experts has expressed serious concern over the banning of the Bangladesh Awami League, warning that the move may violate international legal standards and undermine democratic principles in Bangladesh.
In a formal communication, the mandates of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers stated that recent legal measures raise significant human rights concerns. The experts acted pursuant to resolutions of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
The communication highlights amendments to the Anti-Terrorism Act 2009 and the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973, which have enabled authorities to suspend or ban organisations, including political parties, and restrict their activities without standard judicial safeguards.
According to the experts, these measures may impose unnecessary and disproportionate restrictions on freedoms of association, peaceful assembly, expression, and political participation, as guaranteed under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The concerns come in the context of political unrest following mass protests in mid-2024, triggered by a Supreme Court decision on public-sector job quotas. According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the situation escalated into widespread violence, with reports of extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, and torture. Approximately 1,400 people were reportedly killed during the unrest.
In May 2025, the interim administration introduced amendments allowing authorities to suspend organisations and prohibit all forms of their activities—including digital and public communications—without formally designating them as terrorist entities.
On May 12, a government gazette notification imposed a blanket ban on all activities of the Awami League, pending proceedings before the International Crimes Tribunal against Sheikh Hasina and other party leaders.
The ban effectively bars the party from political participation, including elections, public gatherings, and media engagement. Although described as temporary, UN experts noted that ongoing trials could extend beyond the planned February 2026 national elections, potentially excluding the party from the democratic process.
Further measures reportedly include restrictions on communications by Sheikh Hasina, with authorities banning the publication of her speeches and limiting her ability to address supporters, even from abroad. Interim administration head Muhammad Yunus has also urged foreign governments to restrict her public statements.
The UN experts cautioned that the actions appear to have been taken through executive orders without prior notice, judicial oversight, or the opportunity for affected parties to respond. They also noted that the decision did not follow established procedures for dissolving political parties under existing laws.
“While we do not wish to prejudge the allegations, the reported measures risk undermining political pluralism and democratic participation,” the experts stated.
At the same time, they stressed that individuals accused of serious human rights violations must be held accountable through fair trials conducted by independent and impartial courts. They also called for accountability for abuses committed against members and affiliates of the Awami League.
The communication underscores the importance of balancing security concerns with the protection of fundamental freedoms, warning that misuse of counter-terrorism powers could erode the rule of law and democratic order in Bangladesh.
