EC to Take Action on Awami League After Receiving Official Gazette: CEC

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin has stated that the Election Commission (EC) will take appropriate action regarding the ban on all activities of the Awami League under the Anti-Terrorism Act only after receiving the official government gazette or documents.

He made the remarks during an interview with a private television channel on Sunday.

Nasir Uddin said, “We will take action accordingly after officially receiving the government’s decision. A meeting will be held on Monday (today), after which a decision will be made.”

The CEC clarified that the Election Commission cannot make decisions based solely on newspaper or television reports.

On Saturday night, the interim government decided to ban all activities of the Awami League—including in cyberspace—under the Anti-Terrorism Act, until the trials of the party and its leaders at the International Crimes Tribunal are concluded.

Legal adviser Professor Asif Nazrul said the decision was taken to protect national security and sovereignty, ensure the safety of July Movement leaders and activists, and safeguard plaintiffs and witnesses of the tribunal.

To implement this, the interim government gave both preliminary and final approval to a draft amendment of the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, which includes provisions to ban individuals or entities involved in terrorist activities.

The draft was approved at a meeting of the Advisory Council at the state guest house Jamuna, chaired by interim government Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.

According to the meeting summary, “The Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009, was enacted to provide for measures to prevent certain terrorist activities and ensure effective punishment.”

The summary further stated, “However, the current law lacks provisions for banning the activities of an entity. Therefore, to clarify and include such provisions, it is necessary and timely to make extensive amendments to the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009.”

Based on this context, the amendments now include clauses that allow banning the activities of entities, adapting necessary procedures, and restricting their promotion through online and social media platforms.