New Delhi/Dhaka August 20 – The Indian government is not aware o1f any anti-Bangladesh activities by purported members of the Awami League residing in India, or of any action that is contrary to Indian law, said the country’s Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.

“The government does not allow political activities against other countries to be carried out from Indian soil,” he said on Wednesday in response to media queries on the press statement issued by the interim government of Bangladesh.

Jaiswal said the press statement by the interim government of Bangladesh is thus “misplaced.”

He, however, said India reiterates its expectation that “free, fair and inclusive” elections will be held at the earliest in Bangladesh to ascertain the will and mandate of the people.

Earlier, Bangladesh called on India to take urgent measures to prevent any Bangladeshi nationals residing there from engaging in activities harmful to Bangladesh’s interests.

The interim government also urged the Indian government not to permit or support any such activities in any manner and called for immediate closure of the political office(s) of the “banned” Bangladesh Awami League on Indian soil, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday.

The Indian foreign ministry said, the attention of the government of Bangladesh has been drawn to the reported establishment of offices of the “banned” political party, Bangladesh Awami League, in the Indian capital of Delhi and Kolkata.

This development comes against the backdrop of growing anti-Bangladesh activities undertaken by the leadership of the Bangladesh Awami League from being based on the Indian soil, Dhaka claimed.

Many of the senior leaders of the party, absconding in several criminal cases in Bangladesh on account of grievous crimes committed against humanity, remain in the Indian territory, said the interim government.

On July 21 this year, under the garb of an in-descript NGO, some of the senior leaders of this “banned” party planned to hold a public outreach at the Delhi Press Club and eventually distributed booklets among the attending members of the press.

To date, the interim government said, several reports in Indian media affirm increasing overtures of the party while being on Indian soil.

“Any form of political activity campaigning against the interests of Bangladesh by Bangladeshi nationals, particularly by the absconding leaders/activists of a banned political party, staying on Indian soil, legally or illegally, including the establishment of offices is an unambiguous affront against the people and State of Bangladesh,” said the government in its statement.

This development also risks upholding the good-neighbour relations with India driven by mutual trust and mutual respect, and lends serious implications for the political transformation underway in Bangladesh, Dhaka said.

“This may also trigger public sentiment in Bangladesh which may in turn impact the ongoing efforts of the two countries in further enhancing the relationship between the two closest neighbors,” the statement said.

Is Awami League Banned?

In Bangladesh, both the Awami League and its student wing, the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), have faced bans, but the scope and timing differ:

The Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) was banned on October 23, 2024, by the interim government under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2009. It was declared a “terrorist organization” due to its alleged involvement in violence, murder, rape, torture, and other activities disrupting public safety over the past 15 years, particularly during the July 2024 protests. The ban took effect immediately, prohibiting all BCL activities.

Thee Awami League itself was banned from all political and organizational activities on May 10, 2025, under the Anti-Terrorism Act, with the ban effective until the International Crimes Tribunal completes trials of the party and its leaders. The Election Commission suspended the Awami League’s registration on May 12, 2025, effectively barring it from contesting elections. This followed allegations of the party’s role in mass repression and violence during the 2024 protests that led to the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The Chhatra League was banned first in October 2024, and the Awami League, along with all its affiliate organizations, was banned later in May 2025. Both bans are currently in effect, with the Awami League’s prohibition extending to its entire organizational structure, not just its student wing.

Yunus’ Statement Causes Confusion

Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government, told  BBC journalist Rajini Vaidyanathan, published on June 22, 2025, that the Awami League had not been banned but that its activities were temporarily suspended, including participation in elections, pending a decision by the Election Commission.

He said – “We have not banned the Awami League yet… Their activities have been temporarily suspended, which includes elections. This is temporary. Whether they will be in the elections depends on the decision of the Election Commission.”

This statement appears to conflict with earlier reports indicating that the Awami League was banned on May 10, 2025, under the Anti-Terrorism Act, with its registration suspended by the Election Commission on May 12, 2025, effectively barring it from political activities, including elections, until the International Crimes Tribunal completes its trials.

These actions followed intense pressure from student-led protests and groups like the National Citizen Party (NCP), who demanded the party’s dissolution due to its alleged role in violent crackdowns during the 2024 uprising.

The apparent discrepancy could stem from Dr. Yunus’s emphasis on the temporary nature of the suspension in the interview, framing it as not an outright ban but a conditional restriction subject to the Election Commission’s future ruling.

However, reports from May 2025, including statements from government officials like Asif Nazrul, confirm the ban on all Awami League activities, including in cyberspace, under the Anti-Terrorism Act. Additionally, the Awami League’s registration revocation by the Election Commission suggests a de facto ban on its electoral participation, aligning with statements from advisers like Mahfuz Alam, who declared the party would not be allowed to contest future elections.

It’s possible Dr. Yunus was making a technical distinction in the BBC interview, focusing on the legal nuance that the suspension is not a permanent ban and could be revisited by the Election Commission.

However, as of the latest available information up to August 21, 2025, the Awami League remains under a blanket ban on all activities, as confirmed by multiple sources, with its political future hinging on ongoing legal proceedings and electoral decisions.

To reconcile the confusion, the Awami League’s student wing, the Bangladesh Chhatra League, was explicitly banned as a terrorist organization in October 2024, while the broader Awami League faces a temporary suspension of activities, including electoral participation, as of May 2025, effectively functioning as a ban unless reversed by the Election Commission or tribunal outcomes.

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