Bangladeshi interim cabinet bans all ousted Awami League party activities
GuardianMAY 2
Bangladesh Bans Sheikh Hasina's Awami League Party
Above: Bangladeshis celebrate after the interim government officially bans all activities of the Awami League in Dhaka on May 10, 2025. Image copyright: Ahmed Salahuddin/Contributor/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-government narrative
This is a crucial step toward justice and accountability for the deaths of hundreds of peaceful protesters. The Awami League's brutal crackdown on demonstrators and subsequent attempts to silence opposition voices show why such decisive action was necessary to protect national security and ensure witness safety during the upcoming trials.
Government-critical narrative
The interim government's decision to ban a major political party that led Bangladesh's independence movement and governed for 15 years is a dangerous precedent for democracy. The move appears politically motivated, targeting a party that has historically championed secular values and Bengali nationalism, while empowering religious and right-wing opposition groups.