4 months ago
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A time aft respective lawmakers of the United States called connected the interim authorities of Bangladesh to clasp “inclusive elections,” a spokesperson for the interim authorities successful Dhaka said connected Wednesday (December 24, 2025) that the Awami League, led by deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, remains banned and volition not beryllium allowed to enactment successful the February 2026 elections.
“Regarding the Awami League, our presumption is clear,” said Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam connected Wednesday (December 24) portion addressing the property astatine the Foreign Service Academy, ruling retired the party’s information successful the upcoming February 2026 election.
The comments from Mr. Alam has clarified the presumption of the interim medication regarding the Awami League’s information successful the polls. This volition beryllium the archetypal clip since 1971 that the enactment has been barred from contesting an predetermination successful Bangladesh’s history.
The interim authorities banned the Awami League’s governmental activities connected May 11, 2025, and successful October 2024, Chhatra League, the almighty pupil helping of the Awami League, was besides banned. The party’s activities were further impacted by the decease sentences handed down to Ms. Hasina and erstwhile Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal by the International Crimes Tribunal connected November 17.
Subsequently, connected respective occasions, the interim authorities had maintained that “fugitives” would not beryllium allowed to enactment successful the February 12, 2026, elections, but this is the archetypal clip that the interim authorities has explicitly outlined its argumentation connected the Awami League successful effect to planetary figures.
Five U.S. lawmakers — House Foreign Affairs Committee Representative Gregory Meeks; Chairman of the Subcommittee connected South and Central Asia Representative Bill Huizenga; Ranking Member of the Subcommittee connected South and Central Asia Sydney Kamlager-Dove; and Member of Congress Julie Johnson — connected Tuesday (December 23) sent a missive to Chief Adviser Mohammad Yunus, expressing interest implicit the exclusion of the Awami League arsenic Bangladesh moves into predetermination mode. In effect to the letter, Mr. Alam said that helium had not seen it, stating, “I americium not alert of the letter.”
Ms. Hasina had earlier said, successful her written interviews with the Indian media, that supporters of the Awami League would not ballot successful the predetermination if the enactment of their prime were barred from participating successful the polling process.
