Mass Protests in Bangladesh Capital Dhaka Demand Ban on Awami League

On Friday, in Dhaka, thousands of demonstrators assembled outside interim leader Muhammad Yunus's home, and called for a ban on Sheikh Hasina's Awami League. The protest was organized after Abdul Hamid, a senior Awami League leader, fled Bangladesh on early Thursday morning. Organizers, coordinated by the National Citizen's Party, expressed their intention to continue demonstrations until their demands were met.

Yunus, 84, and a Nobel laureate, took charge in August 2024 following mass student protests that unseated Hasina's government. Hasina, now in self-imposed exile in India, is wanted in Bangladesh on a warrant for alleged crimes against humanity linked to a crackdown in July 2024, which the UN says killed 1,400 people. Protesters accused her of election-influencing and repression of dissent during her government.

The government of Yunus stated that it is “seriously considering” calls to ban the Awami League while also noting ongoing investigations into UN-documented evidence pertaining to allegations of atrocities. The statement said it was awaiting discussion with political groups to reach a consensus, but it did not specify any timeline.

The UN report has amplified scrutiny of Hasina’s legacy, while her supporters insist there are no violations and insist the charges are politically motivated. The interim government feels pressure to balance justice and stability while Bangladesh undergoes its most turbulent political transition in decades.