Awami League media ban still in force nationwide: State minister
Photo: PID
State Minister of Information and Broadcasting Yeaser Khan Chowdhury said in the notification issued on 12 May 2025, all types of activities of the Awami League and its affiliate, associate, and organizations were declared banned. This includes publications and publicity across media, online, and social media. Media should take the matter into consideration.
Ignoring the ban, amid programs conducted by Awami League supporters across various parts of the country and the violence surrounding them, the state minister made these remarks on Tuesday following a meeting with a delegation of the Bangladesh Broadcast Journalist Center (BJC) at the Secretariat.
The interim government banned Chhatra League, an associate organization of the Awami League that was ousted in the July 2024 uprising, that very year by labeling it a terrorist organization. Then, in 2025, a ban was imposed on the activities of the Awami League along with all its other associate organizations.
The 2025 notification said until the trial at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) is completed, all activities of the Awami League and its associate organizations - including any kind of publication, any kind of publicity in mass media, online, and social media, organizing rallies, meetings, assemblies, and conferences - are declared banned.
After Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, who fled the country facing the uprising and took refuge in India, announced her return to the country in December, the activities of the party’s supporters have increased in the country.
Meanwhile, buses are being set on fire and hand bombs are being detonated in various locations, including Dhaka.
Blaming the Awami League for the sabotage, the state minister added, “The politics of those who are committing acts of arson is the politics of destruction. This is nothing new. Since their birth, there have been allegations against them of being involved in arson terrorism, enforced disappearances, murders, and killings.”
Saying law enforcement agencies are active to prevent sabotage, he mentioned that those have already been arrested in various areas. Necessary initiatives are being taken to bring those involved in terrorist activities under the law.
Describing Hasina as the “mastermind of arson terrorism”, the state minister also spoke of bringing her back to the country to face justice.
Earlier during the meeting, various demands and issues of broadcast journalists were discussed. The delegation highlighted the financial crisis of television channels, increases in journalists’ salaries and benefits, professional freedom, and the modernization of broadcast media.
The state minister said, “The BNP government believes in the freedom of the press. It wants responsible journalism. The government expects that the people of the country will receive accurate information through objective news reporting.”
He added that under the direction of the prime minister, the government has not interfered in the work of any electronic or print media so far, and there is no question of controlling or interfering with the mass media in the future either.
The state minister informed that the delegation presented various proposals regarding increasing the revenue of television channels, development of digital platforms, and necessary changes in policies. They will submit their demands in writing to the ministry, and the government will take necessary decisions after reviewing and considering them.
During the meeting, discussions also arose regarding the formation of a Media Commission modeled after the Bar Council. According to the delegation, if such a commission is formed, an opportunity will be created to solve the problems of newspapers, television, and digital media in an integrated manner.
