Interim government Chief Advisor Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus has said the decision on whether the Awami League can contest the next national election lies entirely with the Election Commission, not the interim government.
In an interview with BBC journalist Rajini Vaidyanathan, Yunus clarified that the Awami League has not been formally banned. “We have not banned the Awami League yet. Their activities have been temporarily banned,” he said. Asked whether this includes election participation, he responded, “Temporarily. Whether they will be in the elections or not depends on the decision of the Election Commission.”
When pressed about inclusivity, Yunus argued that an inclusive election does not depend on the presence of any single party. “As long as people are able to vote, it is inclusive,” he said, citing the UN Resident Coordinator in Dhaka.
The remarks came during his UK visit, where he received the King Charles III Harmony Award. Excerpts from the BBC interview were later published by BBC Bangla.
The comments have drawn mixed reactions, as questions continue to grow over political freedom and fairness in the lead-up to Bangladesh’s next election.
