Days after the interim authorities of Bangladesh banned the oldest political get together of the nation, the Awami League, India on Tuesday (May 13, 2025) described the event as a “concerning matter” and urged the deliberate election in Bangladesh must be “inclusive”.
The comment from Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal drew a fast response from Dhaka with the press secretary of the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh interim authorities reminding that everybody ought to respect the “sovereign” will of Bangladesh.
“The ban on the Awami League without due process is a concerning development. As a democracy, India is naturally concerned at curtailment of democratic freedoms and shrinking political space. We strongly support the early holding of free, fair and inclusive elections in Bangladesh,” stated Mr. Jaiswal. The Awami League was launched in 1949 as a car for language-based Bengali nationalism to problem the dominance of principally Urdu-speaking West Pakistan. The founders of the get together have been Hussein Shaheed Suhrawardy, Mujibur Rahman and others, together with Maulana Bhashani.
The interim authorities led by Prof. Mohammed Yunus took out a gazette notification on May 12 banning the Awami League that ruled Bangladesh uninterruptedly for almost 15 years from 2009 until August 5, 2024 when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was overthrown in a student-people rebellion. Earlier, on Saturday, the choice to ban the Awami League was taken in a assembly of the advisory council of the interim authorities that was presided over by Prof. Yunus
Responding to India’s remarks, Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to Prof. Yunus stated, the Awami League throughout its tenure had “severely squeezed” Bangladesh’s political area and “compromised” its sovereignty. He described the Awami League period as a “kleptocratic rule” “The wounds caused by the crimes against humanity perpetrated by this party are still fresh,” stated Mr. Alam, arguing that the ban on the Awami League and its associates was essential to safeguard nationwide safety and sovereignty of Bangladesh.
“Elections are entirely our internal matter. We urge all to respect the sovereign will of our people in matters relating to elections,” stated Mr. Alam, accusing the Awami League of conducting “grossly farcical elections” prior to now. Prof. Yunus had earlier this yr introduced that election in Bangladesh can be held in December this yr.
Published – May 13, 2025 10:50 pm IST