EC suspends AL registration

In a landmark decision with far-reaching political implications, the Election Commission (EC) has suspended the registration of the Awami League, Bangladesh’s oldest and former ruling party, effectively barring it from participating in any future elections.

The move follows a Home Ministry notification issued under the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance, which banned all activities of the Awami League and its affiliated, associate, and fraternal organisations until the conclusion of an ongoing trial at the International Crimes Tribunal.

Election Commission Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed informed journalists of the decision after an emergency meeting of the commission on Monday evening.

According to Article 90J, Clause 1(b) of the Representation of the People Order (RPO), the registration of a political party can be cancelled if it is declared a banned organisation by the government. 

With the issuance of the Home Ministry's order under Section 18(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009, the EC formally moved to halt the party’s registration.

The ban was imposed following allegations that the Awami League committed crimes against humanity during its crackdown on the July Student Movement. These include charges of disappearance, murder, burning to death, genocide, illegal detention, inhuman torture, looting, arson, terrorist acts, and other atrocities.

In response, the International Crimes Tribunal Act has already been amended to facilitate the prosecution of these offenses.

The Election Commission introduced the mandatory political party registration system ahead of the ninth parliamentary elections in 2008. 

Since then, a total of 55 parties have been registered over the course of four general election.

The Awami League, being one of the earliest registered parties, held Registration Number 6 and the election symbol "Boat".

- With its suspension, 49 registered parties remain eligible to contest national polls.

- Previously, five parties—including Jamaat-e-Islami, Freedom Party, United Citizens' Movement, PDP, and JAGPA —had their registrations cancelled for failing to meet legal requirements or due to court orders. Now, the Awami League joins this list.