DHAKA: Bangladesh’s interim government on Saturday banned the Awami League, the political party of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, pending the outcome of a trial over its crackdown on mass protests that prompted her ouster.

According to the United Nations, up to 1,400 protesters died in July last year when the government launched a campaign to silence the opposition.

Sheikh Hasina remains in self-imposed exile in India.

“It has been decided to ban the activities _ including in cyberspace _ of the Awami League under the Anti-Terrorism Act until the trial of the Awami League and its leaders ends,” Asif Nazrul, a government adviser on law and justice, told reporters.

Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2025