Petition filed in High Court to open path for Awami League
Logo of Awami League, Bangladesh. Agamir Somoy graphics.
A petition has been lodged with the High Court challenging the legality of the notification issued during the interim government's tenure that imposed a ban on the activities of the Awami League, which was ousted from power in the July uprising.
The writ petition was filed in the High Court by Al Amin, a resident of Sreenagar Upazila in Munshiganj.
Deputy Attorney General Nur Mohammad Azmi said that Supreme Court lawyer Yunus Ali submitted the petition on his behalf to the relevant branch of the High Court.
The petition also challenges the legality of the ban imposed on all activities of the Awami League, as well as its all wings, associate bodies, and fraternal organizations.
The petition was listed at serial number 60 on Monday's cause list before the High Court bench comprising Justice J.B.M. Hassan and Justice Aziz Ahmed Bhuiyan.
However, the court's proceedings did not reach that serial number on the day. The court's activities concluded with the hearings of various previous cases on the cause list.
After the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024, following the student-public uprising, the interim government banned the party's associate organization, the Chhatra League, within a few months. The Chhatra League was banned as a "terrorist organization."
Under pressure from the demands of the youth active in the July uprising, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification on May 12, 2025, imposing a ban on the activities of the Awami League and all its associated organizations.
It said that until the completion of trials of leaders and activists of the Awami League and its all wings, associate bodies, and fraternal organizations in the International Crimes Tribunal, all their activities—including any kind of publication, media campaigns, online and social media promotions, processions, rallies, gatherings, and conferences—would be prohibited.
Due to this notification, Awami League leaders and activists are not getting the opportunity to carry out party activities. Although they occasionally stage sudden processions, they are facing resistance from the police.
The writ petition in the High Court comes amid political discussions over ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's announcement of returning to the country in December, having taken refuge in India.
The petition has sought a rule asking why the ban notification should not be declared legally ultra vires (beyond legal authority).
At the same time, it has also requested an order to stay the effectiveness of the notification pending the hearing of the rule, should it be issued.
