Election Commission says next step on cancelling Awami League’s registration after govt order

The Election Commission (EC) has said it will determine the next step in revoking the registration of the Awami League as a political party after receiving a government order pertaining to the ban of the ousted party.

On Sunday, Election Commissioner Md Anwarul Islam Sarker said the EC will do what is “required of it” to follow the government order.

"The EC will do what is needed to follow the law on the condition of the order issued by the government. When it reaches us, we will do what is required based on that," he said.

According to the Representation of the People Order (RPO), the registration of a political party is revoked if it is declared banned.

Facing demands from the National Citizen Party (NCP)—formed by student leaders of the July Uprising—and several Islamist groups including Jamaat-e-Islami, the interim government decided to outlaw the Awami League under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

A circular on this will be issued on the next working day following the decision of the Advisory Council on Saturday night, Law Advisor Asif Nazrul said.

He outlined three key resolutions, the most consequential being a nationwide ban on all Awami League activities—including digital operations—until a final verdict is reached in a pending tribunal case.

• The meeting greenlighted amendments to the International Crimes Tribunal Act. According to the amendments, the International Crimes Tribunal will be able to penalise any political party, its affiliates or support groups.

• Until the trial of Bangladesh Awami League and its leaders in the International Crimes Tribunal is completed, all activities of the party, including cyberspace, will be prohibited under the Anti-Terrorism Act to protect the security and sovereignty of the country, the safety of the leaders and activists of the July movement, and the protection of the plaintiffs and witnesses of the International Crimes Tribunal.

• The Advisory Council meeting also decided to finalise and publish the July Proclamation within the next 30 working days.

Article 90H (1)(b) of the RPO states that The registration of a political party may be cancelled for the following reasons shall be cancelled if it is declared banned by the government.

Earlier, on Oct 23, the interim government banned the Awami League's student faction, Bangladesh Chhatra League, under the Anti-Terrorism Act in the face of demands from the Anti-discrimination Student Movement for involvement in 'terrorist' activities.

Now, the interim government led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, which took charge three days after the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government, has decided to ban the Awami League under the same law until the trial is over.

If the party is dissolved or banned, the EC will have to publish the name of the party in the official gazette.

Asked about the decision, Election Commissioner Anwarul said: "We know about the decision through the media, we see it the same way you do. The papers related to this will come, then we will decide the law."

He said that the EC will have to come to a decision once it receives the government order.

Anwarul said, "The Election Commission does not yet know what the government order will be, what conditions will be set forth. Based on the order, the EC will do whatever it needs to do to follow the existing law."