CIVICUS discusses Bangladesh’s democratic transition challenges with Taqbir Huda, human rights lawyer and former regional researcher with Amnesty International, responsible for investigating and documenting human rights violations in the region.
Following months of student-led protests that toppled the previous government, Bangladesh’s interim administration has taken the dramatic step of banning the Awami League (AL), the formerly dominant political party. The ban, on the basis of allegations including genocide and crimes against humanity, was implemented through sweeping amendments to anti-terrorism laws that allow the government to suspend organisations based on suspicion alone. Civil society organisations and opposition parties have challenged these measures, warning that it risks replacing one form of authoritarianism with another. As Bangladesh prepares for a general election, expected to take place in 2026, the ban raises questions about its transition to democracy.
