Sunday, 07 September, 2025
Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah on Wednesday said the Awami League (AL) will not be able to participate in elections if the ban on its activities remains in place.
“That political party cannot carry out any of its activities, so it cannot contest any election in its name,” he said, responding to a question about whether leaders of a party under suspension could participate in the upcoming parliamentary polls.
Sanaullah made the remarks at a press briefing at Nirbachan Bhaban in Dhaka, where he highlighted the proposed changes in the draft Representation of the People Order (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025. The draft has been sent to the Law Ministry and is expected to be promulgated as an ordinance ahead of the next national election, scheduled for early February 2026.
Asked whether leaders of a suspended party could run as independent candidates, he said it would depend on the circumstances at the time.
Explaining the draft amendments, Sanaullah said that if a political party is not declared “illegal or cancelled,” but its activities are suspended by the government, the party’s registration and reserved election symbol will remain inactive.
The Election Commission has also finalized a provision in the draft RPO barring fugitives from contesting elections. Sanaullah added that anyone declared a fugitive by a court would be disqualified from standing for election or serving as a member of parliament.
On May 12, 2025, the government issued a gazette notification banning all activities of the Bangladesh Awami League and its affiliated organisations under the Anti-Terrorism Act until the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) completes the trial of the party’s leaders and activists.
Later, the Election Commission (EC) suspended the registration of the Awami League as a political party, the day the gazette notification was issued by the Public Security Division of the Home Ministry.
According to the government’s notification, all activities of the Awami League and its affiliated and like-minded organisations are prohibited until the trial of the leaders and activists of these organisations is completed at the International Crimes Tribunal.
The notification states that any form of publication, media engagement, online and social media campaigns, rallies, meetings, assemblies and conferences organised by the Awami League or any of its affiliated bodies are strictly prohibited.
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Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah on Wednesday said the Awami League (AL) will not be able to participate in elections if the ban on its activities remains in place.
“That political party cannot carry out any of its activities, so it cannot contest any election in its name,” he said, responding to a question about whether leaders of a party under suspension could participate in the upcoming parliamentary polls.
Sanaullah made the remarks at a press briefing at Nirbachan Bhaban in Dhaka, where he highlighted the proposed changes in the draft Representation of the People Order (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025. The draft has been sent to the Law Ministry and is expected to be promulgated as an ordinance ahead of the next national election, scheduled for early February 2026.
Asked whether leaders of a suspended party could run as independent candidates, he said it would depend on the circumstances at the time.
Explaining the draft amendments, Sanaullah said that if a political party is not declared “illegal or cancelled,” but its activities are suspended by the government, the party’s registration and reserved election symbol will remain inactive.
The Election Commission has also finalized a provision in the draft RPO barring fugitives from contesting elections. Sanaullah added that anyone declared a fugitive by a court would be disqualified from standing for election or serving as a member of parliament.
On May 12, 2025, the government issued a gazette notification banning all activities of the Bangladesh Awami League and its affiliated organisations under the Anti-Terrorism Act until the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) completes the trial of the party’s leaders and activists.
Later, the Election Commission (EC) suspended the registration of the Awami League as a political party, the day the gazette notification was issued by the Public Security Division of the Home Ministry.
According to the government’s notification, all activities of the Awami League and its affiliated and like-minded organisations are prohibited until the trial of the leaders and activists of these organisations is completed at the International Crimes Tribunal.
The notification states that any form of publication, media engagement, online and social media campaigns, rallies, meetings, assemblies and conferences organised by the Awami League or any of its affiliated bodies are strictly prohibited.
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