Dhaka, Bangladesh (AP) -The Interim government in Bangladesh On Saturday forbade all activities of the former ruling Awami League party led by former influential Premier Sheikh Hasina, who was driven into a massive uprising last year.
ASIF NAZRUL, the country's adviser, said on Saturday that the interim cabinet led by the Nobeljeswaraat Muhammad Yunus decided to prohibit the activities of the party online and elsewhere under the preview of the country. The ban would remain in place until a special tribunal completes a process of the party and its leaders about the death of hundreds of students and other protesters during an anti-government uprising in July and August last year.
“This decision is aimed at guaranteeing national security and sovereignty, protection of activists of the July movement and claimants and witnesses involved in the standing procedures,” Nazrul told reporters after a special cabinet meeting.
Nazrul said that the meeting also expanded the scope on Saturday for trying out political parties with regard to murder accusations during the Anti-Hasina protest that is handled by the International Crimes Tribunal.
He said that a government report with regard to the prohibition would soon be published with details.
Hasina and many of her senior party colleagues are in many cases accused of murder after her expulsion last year. Hasina has been in exile in India since August 5, because her official home was stormed by demonstrators shortly after she left the country.
The Human Rights Office of the United Nations said in February in a report that up to 1,400 people may have been killed during three weeks of Anti-Hasina protest.
The dramatic decision of Saturday evening came after thousands of demonstrators, including supporters of a newly formed political party by students, went to the street in Dhaka and published an ultimatum to ban the Awami League party on Saturday evening.
The uprising led by students ended Hasina's 15 years rule and three days after her autumn Yunus took course as an interim leader.
