Yunus’ Ban on Awami League Is Not Administrative — It Is a Redrawing of Bangladesh’s Political Future
EDITORIAL | A Democracy Cannot Function When 40% of Voters Are Silenced
Bangladesh stands at a decisive crossroads. With one executive order, interim Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has suspended all activities of the Awami League — the country’s largest political force. This is not merely the reshuffling of a political landscape; it is the erasure of nearly 40% of Bangladesh’s electorate from the democratic process.
Such a move cannot be defended as administrative housekeeping. It is, in every sense, a political blackout unprecedented in the nation’s history. Elections without real opposition are not elections at all; they are rituals performed to legitimise a predetermined outcome.
A Vacuum Filled by Extremist Influence
The consequences of removing the Awami League go far beyond partisan injury. Bangladesh now risks reverting to the influence of groups like Jamaat-e-Islami and Hefazat-e-Islam, whose radical agendas were once firmly restrained. Their re-entry into mainstream political relevance signals a worrying reversal of the country’s secular and progressive gains.
Reports of rising moral policing, shrinking space for women, and minorities feeling increasingly vulnerable point to a deeper ideological shift — one that Bangladesh has long resisted.
The Making of a Controlled Election
By excluding the Awami League from contesting, the upcoming February 2026 election looks alarmingly like a manufactured exercise, not a democratic contest. A ballot loses all meaning when its outcome is effectively predetermined. This is the blueprint of controlled elections seen in illiberal regimes, where participation is allowed but power is decided elsewhere.
Bangladesh, with its history of hard-earned democratic progress, cannot afford to walk this path.
A Warning for the Region
The political direction taken today will shape not only Bangladesh’s domestic stability but also its standing in South Asia. An empowered extremist bloc and weakened democratic institutions pose risks that extend beyond national borders — threatening regional security, economic trust, and international partnerships.
Our Final Thoughts
As Bangladesh approaches its next election, the world is watching. The suppression of a major political party, combined with rising extremist influence, signals a dangerous turning point. Democracy cannot survive selective participation. It demands inclusion, transparency, and the freedom to choose — none of which can thrive under political suppression.