Bangladesh Ban of the Awami League – Violation of Fundamental Human Rights

Steven Powles KC and Alex Tinsley from Doughty Street Chambers have submitted a Request for Urgent Action on behalf of Sheikh Hasina, President of the Bangladesh Awami League, to the UN Independent Expert on the Promotion of a Democratic International Order and other UN Special Rapporteurs regarding the unjustifiable ban of the Awami League in Bangladesh.

The Urgent Appeal notes that Dr Muhammed Yunus assumed power in Bangladesh and established an Interim Administration on 8 August 2024. Since Dr Yunus assumed power, supporters of the Awami League, those associated with it and minorities have been subjected to widespread attacks in Bangladesh. Such attacks have gone unpunished and the Interim Administration has offered the perpetrators students and others blanket immunity in respect of acts in the uprising between 15 July and 8 August 2024.

The Interim Administration has undertaken to hold elections in February 2026. It remains to be seen if this promise will be kept. In the meantime, the Awami League remains a popular political force in Bangladesh. However, in May 2025, the Interim Administration banned the Awami League from participating in elections and has restricted all its activities until the conclusion of proceedings against Awami League leaders before the Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal.

The Urgent Appeal to the UN Independent Expert on the Promotion of a Democratic International Order further sets out how the ban of the Awami League violates fundamental human rights, undermines the rule of law and democracy in Bangladesh. The Appeal calls on the Independent Expert and other Rapporteurs to urge the Interim Administration to hold free and fair elections as a matter of urgency, to lift the ban on the Awami League and to allow them to fully participate in any such elections when they are held.