Staff Correspondent

The government has issued a gazette notification amending the International Crimes (Tribunal) Act 1973, granting the tribunal the authority to take punitive action against political parties, their affiliates, or supporter groups involved in crimes under international law.

According to the gazette, the president has enacted and promulgated the International Crimes (Tribunals) (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 under the powers granted by Article 93(1) of the Constitution.

Under the revised law, if the tribunal finds credible evidence that an organisation—such as a political party or its associate entity—is involved in international crimes, it will have the authority to suspend or ban the organisation, cancel its registration or licence, and confiscate its assets.Facing demands from the National Citizen Party (NCP)—formed by student leaders of the July Uprising—and several Islamist groups including Jamaat-e-Islami, the interim government decided to outlaw the Awami League under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

The party that led Bangladesh’s independence struggle is now set to face trial for alleged crimes against humanity in connection with its crackdown on the July movement.

Law Advisor Asif Nazrul announced the decisions on Saturday night following an emergency meeting of the advisory council.

 Earlier, on Oct 23, in response to the demands of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, the interim government banned Chhatra League, the student wing of the Awami League, under the Anti-Terrorism Act for its alleged involvement in “terrorist” activities.

The amendments to the ICT Act, which were brought in 2013 in the face of the Ganajagaran Mancha movement, allowed for the trial of organisations as well as individuals. However, the punishment for organisations was not mentioned.

The Sheikh Hasina-led government had then said it would revise the law again to try Jamaat-e-Islami for its role in the 1971 genocide. But the Awami League government never did so.

The gazette to amend the law on Sunday has now opened up a path for the trial of the Awami League itself as a party.

On Aug 5, a student-led mass movement toppled Awami League’s 15-year rule as Hasina fled the country for India.

Three days later, the interim government took charge with Muhammad Yunus as chief advisor. Dozens of cases followed against Hasina, Awami League ministers, MPs and other leaders and activists at different levels over the casualties during the July-August coup.

The same tribunal that had sentenced top Jamaat-e-Islami leaders to death for war crimes during the 1971 war was now being used by the Yunus government to initiate legal proceedings against the Awami League and her associates.

Arrest warrants were issued for Hasina in relation to charges of “genocide” and “crimes against humanity” committed during the attempt to suppress the uprising.

The demands for banning the Awami League had been raised by the leaders of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement from the very beginning.

The movement to remove the Awami League from the political landscape gained momentum four days ago, following former president Abdul Hamid's departure from the country.

Earlier, on Thursday night, a group of protesters led by Hasnat Abdullah, chief organiser of the NCP’s southern unit, staged a sit-in outside Yunus’s official residence, State Guest House Jamuna.

The demonstration drew support from the Jamaat-e-Islami and its student front Islami Chhatra Shibir, AB Party, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Hifazat-e-Islam, and student groups affiliated with the Anti-discrimination Student Movement.

Following Friday prayers, protesters set up a stage at the Minto Road entry point and held a rally, brandishing placards and banners demanding that the Awami League be outlawed.

They had been staying at Shahbagh since that afternoon. On Saturday afternoon, they held a mass rally there and raised three demands, including the banning of the Awami League.

Speaking at the gathering, Hasnat said: “Bangladesh is now split in two: on one side, the fascist forces; on the other, the Bangladeshi people. Those who oppose banning the Awami League are the fascists. Those who support it are the true Bangladeshis.”

At 7:30pm, Hasnat gave the interim government one hour to meet their demands. “Interim [government], ban the Awami League. I’m giving you one hour.

Around 8:30pm, the Advisory Council began the emergency meeting at the State Guest House Jamuna, which continued until 10pm.

Later, Law Advisor Asif Nazrul announced the decision to ban the Awami League at a press conference.