Bangladesh Interim Government Bans Student Wing of Former PM Sheikh Hasina’s Party
The interim government of Bangladesh has officially banned the Bangladesh Chatra League, the student wing of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League party. This decision follows demands from a student group that led protests during the July-August uprising, invoking the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2009.
The Bangladesh Home Ministry issued the ban under sub-section (1) of Section 18 of the “Anti-Terrorism Act 2009.” The official notification stated that the Bangladesh Chatra League has been involved in various public security offenses, including killings, torture, harassment in common rooms, seat trading in dormitories, and instances of rape and sexual harassment.
On Tuesday, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, which played a key role in the protests against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, made five demands, including the resignation of Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin and the ban on the Bangladesh Chatra League.
The Home Ministry’s order cited media reports and court evidence linking the organization’s leaders to criminal activities. It highlighted that members of the Bangladesh Chatra League violently attacked protesting students and the general public during the anti-discrimination movement that began on July 15.
The order emphasized the serious nature of the allegations, stating that the group’s leaders engaged in reckless armed attacks that resulted in numerous casualties among students and civilians.
