Interim Govt Confirms, Awami League Cannot Contest February Polls
Dhaka, December 25, 2025 –/ News Desk
The Bangladesh Awami League will not be allowed to participate in the upcoming national parliamentary elections scheduled for February next year, the Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser of the interim government, Shafikul Alam, announced on Wednesday. The decision has intensified political tensions in the country, raising questions about the credibility of the electoral process.
The announcement came during a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy following a meeting of the Advisory Council of the interim government. Addressing queries about a letter reportedly sent to the Chief Adviser by five US lawmakers expressing concern over the ban on the Awami League, Alam said he had not seen the letter but reaffirmed the government’s position. “Since the Awami League’s activities are banned and the party has been deregistered by the Election Commission, it will not be able to contest this election,” he said.
The interim government had earlier, in May 2025, issued a gazette notification officially prohibiting all activities of the Awami League and its affiliated organizations. The order, issued under the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance by the Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs, is set to remain in effect until the completion of trials at the International Crimes Tribunal.
The move follows the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year after a student-led uprising in July, which brought the interim government to power. Hasina strongly condemned the ban, arguing that an election conducted without her party cannot be considered democratic. “An election without the Awami League is not an election but a coronation. Millions of Bangladeshis will be disenfranchised, and any government formed under these circumstances will lack moral authority,” she said.
Analysts in Dhaka warn that excluding one of the nation’s major political parties could undermine the legitimacy of the February elections and further polarize the political environment. Observers emphasize that the electoral process must ensure fairness and inclusivity to maintain public trust and support national reconciliation.
With the political climate already tense, the exclusion of the Awami League marks a critical juncture in Bangladesh’s democratic journey. The February 2026 elections will test not only the interim government’s capacity to conduct a credible vote but also the resilience of the country’s democratic institutions amid growing domestic and international scrutiny.
