A parliament in Bangladesh widely seen by critics as influenced by Islamic fundamentalist forces has passed a sweeping amendment to the country’s Anti-Terrorism Act, granting authorities expanded powers to ban not only organizations but also all associated activities—effectively institutionalizing the prohibition of the Awami League, one of the country’s oldest and most influential political parties.
“This law will damage democracy and introduce a form of neo-fascism, consolidating anti-secular Islamist politics,” said Advocate Parvez Hashem, a political analyst.
The “Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2026” was adopted by voice vote on Wednesday during a parliamentary session presided over by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed introduced the bill and urged its immediate passage, which lawmakers approved without detailed clause-by-clause scrutiny.
“This bill has been brought to further amend the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009,” the home minister told parliament during the session. He later described the measure as “an amendment concerning the prohibition of a genocidal terrorist organization,” signaling the government’s justification for maintaining restrictions on the Awami League.
The amendment introduces significant changes to Sections 18 and 20 of the 2009 law. It explicitly allows the government not only to declare an entity banned but also to prohibit all of its activities. Under the revised provisions, authorities can freeze financial assets, halt transactions, and block any form of communication or mobilization linked to a banned group. This includes media statements, online and social media content, public rallies, press conferences, and speeches.
Ruling BNP leaders argued that the previous law lacked clarity in restricting organizational activities, making the amendment necessary to bring the legislation in line with current needs. The new law formalizes provisions first introduced through an ordinance issued on May 11, 2025, during the interim administration.
The political context surrounding the amendment remains highly contentious. In the national parliamentary election held on February 12, 2026, the country’s largest political party, the Awami League, was barred from participating, and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) came to power through what critics describe as a one-sided election.
Jamaat-e-Islami, which actively opposed Bangladesh’s Liberation War and whose senior leaders have been convicted of war crimes, was established as the main opposition party in parliament. In that same parliament, today’s passage of this bill further targets the Awami League—the secular political party that led the country during the Liberation War.
The developments follow the dramatic political upheaval of August 2024, when a violent uprising ended the Awami League’s 15-year rule. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus subsequently assumed leadership of an interim administration, amid allegations of backing from segments of the military and Islamist groups.
Human rights organizations have since reported widespread abuses. Ain O Salish Kendra said at least 318 people, including children, were killed between August 5 and 8, 2024. The Bangladesh Hindu, Buddhist, Christian Unity Council documented more than 2,000 incidents of violence against minorities in the weeks that followed, including attacks on homes and businesses.
Critics say the political environment has become increasingly restrictive, with opposition voices marginalized and institutions reshaped. The Awami League was formally banned in May 2025, and its registration was later suspended by the Election Commission, preventing it from contesting the most recent parliamentary election.
During Wednesday’s session, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Shafiqur Rahman objected to the speed of the legislative process, noting that lawmakers received the bill’s comparative text only minutes before debate. He urged the Speaker to allow more time for review, describing the measure as sensitive. The request was denied.
“You had a specified time to raise objections,” Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed said. “At this stage of the bill, there is no opportunity to object.”
Legal analysts warn that the amendment could significantly narrow political space by criminalizing not only organizational activity but also expression and association.
“This effectively eliminates any public or political space for the banned group,” said a Dhaka-based legal analyst familiar with the legislation, speaking on condition of anonymity due to security concerns. “When speech, assembly, and even online expression are restricted, it raises serious constitutional questions.”
The amendment also builds on earlier changes to the International Crimes Tribunal framework, which was expanded under the interim government to allow prosecution of political parties for alleged crimes against humanity. The tribunal was originally established under the Awami League government to try individuals accused of war crimes during the 1971 Liberation War.
Observers say the current trajectory marks a striking reversal, with legal mechanisms once used to prosecute wartime collaborators now being applied against the party that led the country’s independence struggle.
As a result, analysts believe that Bangladesh has taken another step toward more extreme fundamentalist and radical politics, raising concerns about the future of democratic pluralism in the country.
For supporters of the Awami League, the law underscores what they view as a sustained effort to erase the party from Bangladesh’s political landscape. BNP leaders, however, maintain that the measures are necessary to address alleged security threats and ensure accountability.
With political polarization deepening and legal constraints tightening, Bangladesh appears to be moving further away from inclusive democratic competition and toward a more restricted and ideologically polarized system.
