Authorities in Bangladesh arrested dozens of activists linked to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s banned Awami League overnight after supporters attempted to mark the party’s 77th foundation day with processions and public gatherings despite a nationwide security crackdown.
Awami League anniversary sparks arrests
The Awami League, founded on June 23, 1949, when Bangladesh was still part of East Pakistan, is the country’s oldest political party and played a central role in the 1971 Liberation War.
The party was outlawed by the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus after Hasina’s government was removed from power on August 5, 2024, following the student-led July Uprising. The decision was later backed by Parliament under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s government.
Ahead of the anniversary, the Awami League called on supporters through social media to participate in online discussions, display party flags, organise rallies and launch poster campaigns.
However, security agencies moved swiftly to prevent any public mobilisation. A police headquarters spokesperson said 26 Awami League activists were arrested in Dhaka alone, while several others were detained across the country for allegedly attempting to violate the ban.
“We have successfully thwarted their plans so far, and we expect they will not be able to organise rallies, processions or gatherings during the remainder of the day,” Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mosleh Uddin Ahmed told reporters.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police later said legal action had been initiated against those arrested and that operations would continue to ensure law and order.
Supporters continue activities despite restrictions
Despite the clampdown, Awami League-affiliated social media accounts shared videos showing supporters marching with party flags and banners while raising slogans in different parts of the country.
A day before the anniversary, Hasina posted a message on social media declaring, “We were not born to be defeated.”
Hasina has been living in India since her removal from office in 2024. She was later sentenced to death in absentia by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal over allegations linked to attempts to suppress the student-led protests.
In another social media post, the Awami League claimed it would return to politics with greater public support and renewed strength.
Bangladesh’s mainstream media outlets and digital news platforms remain prohibited from publishing or broadcasting Hasina’s statements or activities related to the Awami League.
Nevertheless, in comments carried by regional media, Hasina has accused successive governments of politicising the judiciary, enabling mob violence and undermining democratic processes.
Security tightened across Bangladesh
Reports indicated that Awami League supporters staged brief unauthorised marches in Barishal district, prompting authorities to deploy additional riot police.
Security was also heightened in Gopalganj, considered a traditional Awami League stronghold and Hasina’s hometown. The district witnessed violent unrest in 2024 when five protesters were killed during a march organised by leaders of the July Uprising, who later went on to establish the National Citizen Party (NCP).
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed reiterated on Monday that the Awami League no longer exists as a recognised political organisation.
“There is no organisation by the name of Awami League,” he told reporters when asked about the anniversary.
The government also deployed army personnel and members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) to assist civil authorities in Dhaka and five other districts until June 30 as tensions escalated around the anniversary observances.
The move came just a week after troops had been withdrawn from law enforcement duties following nearly two years of deployment after the fall of Hasina’s administration.
Deaths of activists add to tensions
Authorities had already issued a nationwide alert after intelligence agencies warned of possible unrest surrounding the June 23 anniversary.
Tensions further intensified following the deaths of two Awami League activists. One died while in police custody in Faridpur on June 20, while another succumbed to injuries after a police chase in Barishal on June 21.
The incidents sparked protests in several areas, including a temporary blockade of a major highway connecting Dhaka with Khulna.
In a notable development, senior leaders of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Faridpur attended funeral prayers for one of the deceased activists and publicly criticised the custodial death.
At the same time, authorities deployed additional security personnel in the area to prevent any escalation of tensions.
