Bangladesh's NCP Leads Shahbagh Protests Demanding Awami League Ban Amid Yunus-Led Government Consideration

In Bangladesh, the National Citizen Party (NCP), led by Hasnat Abdullah, has organized a series of mass rallies and protests demanding a ban on the Awami League, the country's oldest and largest secular political party. These demonstrations have taken place at key locations including in front of the Chief Adviser's residence at Jamuna and the Shahbagh area, with students and various political groups participating. The protests intensified following the Awami League's ouster from power last August. The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, is reportedly considering the ban, citing allegations of dictatorship and terrorist activities linked to the Awami League.

The government's advisory council has shown no dissent on the matter, and the decision is said to lie with the government and the Election Commission. The protests have included blocking major highways such as Dhaka-Aricha and Shahbagh, with authorities using water spray to disperse crowds. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police issued a public notice prohibiting mass gatherings near the Bangladesh Secretariat and the Chief Adviser's residence. The Awami League has strongly protested the summons of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by the Anti-Corruption Commission, calling the move unlawful. Some opposition voices accuse the interim government of attempting to rehabilitate the Awami League, while the party itself condemns the proposed ban as a conspiracy to erase democracy from Bangladesh. There have also been reports of Islamic extremists displaying ISIS flags during the protests, complicating the political environment.