‘Rule of law not followed, India concerned’: MEA on Bangladesh banning Hasina’s Awami League

India on Tuesday said that ban on the Awami League in Bangladesh without due process is a concerning development and called for holding free, fair and inclusive elections in the country as soon as possible.

#WATCH | MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "The ban on the Awami League (in Bangladesh) without due process is a concerning development. As a democracy, India is naturally concerned at curtailment of democratic freedoms and shrinking political space. We strongly support the… pic.twitter.com/yBdAyesWwp

— ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2025

Addressing a press briefing on Tuesday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “The ban on the Awami League (in Bangladesh) without due process is a concerning development. As a democracy, India is naturally concerned at curtailment of democratic freedoms and shrinking political space. We strongly support the early holding of free, fair and inclusive elections in Bangladesh.”

Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, on Saturday officially banned the Awami League — the party of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina — under the country’s anti-terrorism legislation, PTI quoted a statement issued by Yunus’ office.

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The announcement, described as a “statement of the council of advisers” (functioning as the interim Cabinet), said the ban will remain in force until the completion of the ongoing trials of the Awami League and its leaders in Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT).

The council cited national security and sovereignty concerns as reasons for the ban, saying that the move was also aimed at ensuring the safety of the leaders and activists involved in the July 2024 uprising — which led to the downfall of the Awami League government — as well as the complainants and witnesses participating in the ICT trials.

In a parallel move, the interim Cabinet, chaired by Yunus, amended the ICT law to empower the tribunal to prosecute political parties and their affiliated organisations.

Founded in 1949, the Awami League denounced the move as unconstitutional and politically motivated. “All decisions of the illegal government are illegal,” the party declared on its official Facebook page.

Sheikh Hasina, ousted from power in July, has been living in exile in India since August 5. Her official residence in Dhaka was stormed by protesters shortly after her departure.

Adding to the political pressure, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia returned to Dhaka earlier this month following four months of medical treatment in London. Her return has intensified calls on the interim administration to announce a timeline for fresh elections in the country.

With inputs from agencies