NN Online:
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin on Monday stated that the Election Commission (EC) will make a decision regarding the Awami League’s party registration only after receiving the official gazette notification.
“We are waiting for the gazette. Once the sun rises, everything will be clear—wait for that moment,” the CEC told reporters in Dhaka, responding to queries following a meeting with a delegation from the Carter Center at the Nirbachan Bhaban.
When asked if the Awami League’s registration would be cancelled following the issuance of the gazette, CEC Nasir Uddin emphasized that no decisions can be based solely on media reports.
“Let the gazette be published first. Once that happens, the Commission will meet and take a decision accordingly,” he said.
As per the Representation of the People Order (RPO), a political party’s registration is subject to automatic cancellation if it is officially banned.
The remarks come amid heightened political developments. Following demands by leaders of the 2024 student-led mass uprising and several political parties—including the National Citizens’ Party (NCP) and Jamaat-e-Islami—the interim government has moved to ban the Awami League’s activities.
In a special session on Saturday night, the Council of Advisers decided to suspend all activities of the Awami League, including digital and online operations, under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The decision will remain in effect until the conclusion of the trials of Awami League leaders by the International Crimes Tribunal.
On Sunday, the Council approved the draft of the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025. The new provision allows for the banning of individuals or entities linked to terrorist activities and restricts their operations, including their online presence.
Originally enacted in 2009, the Anti-Terrorism Act aims to prevent terrorist activity and ensure effective prosecution. The new amendments expand the scope to include content regulation on social media and other digital platforms.
