Permanent ban on Awami League detrimental to Bangladesh’s democracy: Report

Dhaka/Colombo: A proposal to make the ban on Bangladesh Awami League permanent has raised serious concerns about the future of democracy in the country, according to a recent opinion piece.

The ban was initially imposed last year by the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus under the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance 2025. Now, the new government headed by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is reportedly considering turning it into a permanent legal measure.

Political analyst Anwar A. Khan, writing in the *Sri Lanka Guardian*, described the move as more than a political contest, calling it a potential constitutional crisis.

He argued that the Constitution of Bangladesh—framed after the 1971 Liberation War—guarantees democratic principles such as pluralism, participation and the rule of law. Articles 37 and 38, he noted, ensure the right to peaceful assembly and the formation of associations, including political parties.

According to Khan, criminalising the activities of a major political party with severe penalties is not regulation but repression, and directly contradicts these constitutional safeguards. He also pointed to Article 11, which defines Bangladesh as a democracy founded on fundamental rights and freedoms.

Raising critical questions, Khan asked whether a democracy can function meaningfully if one of its principal political forces is effectively eliminated by law. He warned that making the ban permanent signals a shift from temporary restrictions to institutionalised political exclusion.

Calling the move “a dangerous departure from democratic norms,” he described it as an attempt to codify political vendetta rather than governance.

Khan also highlighted what he termed a contradiction in the BNP’s stance, noting that its leaders had earlier opposed banning political parties, arguing that such decisions should rest with the people. He suggested that reversing this position risks eroding public trust and weakening democratic foundations.

He cautioned that democracies often erode gradually—through suppression of dissent, criminalisation of opposition and eventual normalisation of exclusion. The current move, he warned, could deepen political polarisation and shrink democratic space in Bangladesh.

At the same time, Khan expressed confidence in the resilience of the Awami League, noting its historical roots in the country’s independence movement and its enduring connection with the people.

He concluded by stressing that democracy must be upheld through participation and open contest, not prohibition. Ultimately, he said, the authority to determine the fate of political parties lies with the citizens, and ignoring this principle would amount to a constitutional betrayal rather than a mere political misstep.

With inputs from IANS