Political Parties Previously Banned in Bangladesh

Political Parties Previously Banned in Bangladesh

Mahbub Hasan Tutul, Dhaka Correspondent:

Banning political parties is not a new phenomenon in Bangladesh. Since independence, several political parties and organizations have been banned under legal frameworks.

On March 26, 1971, at the onset of the Liberation War, the occupying Pakistani government banned the Awami League. After independence, the government of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman banned Jamaat-e-Islami, three factions of the Muslim League, the PDP, and all religion-based political parties and groups that opposed the Liberation War.

On January 25, 1975, Sheikh Mujib dissolved all political parties, including the Awami League, and introduced one-party rule through the formation of BAKSAL. After the assassination of Sheikh Mujib on August 15, 1975, all political activities, including those of BAKSAL, were suspended under martial law.

President Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem lifted the ban on political activities in 1976. During this period, senior leaders including Zohra Tajuddin revived the Awami League from BAKSAL. However, due to leadership conflicts, the party split into two factions: Awami League (Malek) and Awami League (Mizan). Later, under Sheikh Hasina’s leadership, Abdur Razzaq reformed BAKSAL again.

Earlier, in 1979 under President Ziaur Rahman, Jamaat and other previously banned parties were allowed to re-enter politics. However, Jamaat could not contest elections that year directly. Its leaders participated under the banner of a party called the Islamic Democratic League (IDL).

In 2013, during the Awami League government, the High Court canceled Jamaat-e-Islami’s registration. Last year, the Awami League government banned Jamaat and its student wing, Chhatra Shibir, under the Anti-Terrorism Act. After the Sheikh Hasina government was ousted in a mass uprising in July, the interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus lifted the ban in August.

Under the Special Powers Act of 1974, the Purba Banglar Sarbahara Party (PBSP) and the Purba Banglar Communist Party (PBCP), two Maoist left-wing organizations, were banned. These remain prohibited to this day.

Additionally, after the nationwide bombings in 2005, Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) was banned under the Anti-Terrorism Act. Hizb ut-Tahrir was banned in 2009. Most recently, on October 23 last year, the Chhatra League was also banned under the same law.