Bangladesh’s Election Commissioner Abdur Rahman Masud confirmed on Monday that the Awami League will not be able to participate in the upcoming General Elections.

This follows an official notification issued by the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government on May 12, which banned the Awami League and its affiliated bodies from conducting activities both online and offline.

While addressing a workshop titled ‘Review of Voters Lists for the upcoming General Elections’ at the Regional Public Administration Training Centre (RPATC) in Rajshahi, Masud stated that conducting elections without the participation of the Awami League was not an ideal scenario.

The Election Commission has announced plans to hold elections in June 2026. Akhter Ahmad, Secretary in the Election Commission, along with Rajshahi Election Commission officials and law enforcement representatives, were present at the workshop.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which had earlier set a December election deadline, voiced concerns about the lack of visible preparations by the interim government. Senior BNP leaders expressed frustration, fearing the absence of election planning could lead to the passing of the deadline.

Many within the party believe that the ban on the Awami League’s activities, as well as other controversial government actions like allowing human corridors to Rakhine and outsourcing port operations, may signal a deliberate delay in holding elections.

The BNP has warned that continued political instability, including growing tensions with the National Citizen Party (NCP) and Jamaat-e-Islami, may lead to street protests. These developments have raised suspicions that local and international actors may be conspiring to prolong the interim government’s rule.

In response, the BNP has announced a youth rally on May 28 in Dhaka, intending to send a strong message to the government to avoid further delaying the election process.