Dhaka, May 12 (V7N) –The government has officially banned all activities of the Awami League and its allies over allegations of crimes against humanity and attempts to destabilize the state, until the completion of its trial at the International Crimes Tribunal.
The order, issued by order of the president, takes immediate effect.
The ban will remain in place until the conclusion of ongoing judicial proceedings against leaders and activists of the party and its allied bodies at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT).
The order states that from the formation of the government on January 6, 2009, until its ouster in a student-led mass uprising on August 5 last year, the Awami League and its affiliates carried out widespread acts of violence and repression across the country.
These included attacks on political opponents and dissenters, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, torture and rape, it adds.
The notification says that during the July uprising, the party and its associate bodies were involved in enforced disappearances, murders, burning people alive, massacres, unlawful detentions, inhuman torture, looting, arson, terrorist activities and crimes against humanity.
These allegations, it asserts, have been substantiated by both domestic and international reports.
A large number of cases related to these allegations are currently pending at the International Crimes Tribunal and other domestic criminal courts.
Since the fall of the Awami League government, its members and operatives have allegedly continued to engage in activities aimed at obstructing ongoing judicial proceedings, intimidating the public and threatening national unity and sovereignty.
These include attacks on uprising participants, holding provocative processions, distributing anti-state leaflets and making inflammatory statements on social media, particularly by fugitive leaders residing abroad, including the party’s chief, ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
The government claims that there have also been attempts to damage public and private property, along with other violations of law and order.
Such actions, according to the notification, pose a serious threat to national security, public safety and the legal process.
It further states that these activities have instilled fear among plaintiffs and witnesses involved in the ongoing cases and appear intended to derail judicial proceedings.
The government maintains that there is sufficient evidence to indicate that the Awami League and its allied organizations have been engaged in illegal and conspiratorial acts aimed at destabilizing the country and spreading terror among the public, similar to the operations of a terrorist group.
In view of this, the government declares that all activities by the Awami League and its affiliated, associate and like-minded organization, including publications, media and online communications, propaganda on social media, rallies, meetings, processions, and conferences, are prohibited until the legal proceedings are concluded.
END/MSS/AJ
Comment: