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The move comes as the ban on the Awami League, initially imposed by Bangladesh’s interim administration, has been retained and formalised by the new BNP government
The continued ban, Hasina has argued, effectively disenfranchises a significant section of the country’s population and raises questions about the legitimacy of the electoral process. File pic/AP
The legal team of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has approached United Nations human rights experts seeking urgent intervention against the continued ban on the Awami League and calling for fresh, free and fair elections in which her party can participate.
In a communication submitted to three UN experts, Hasina has alleged that the February 2026 electionswhich brought Tarique Rahman’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to power, were neither free and fair nor inclusive because the Awami League was barred from contesting.
The move comes as the ban on the Awami League, initially imposed by Bangladesh’s interim administration, has been retained and formalised by the BNP government.
According to a statement released by UK-based Matrix Chambers on October 27, the communication argues that Bangladesh cannot consolidate democratic governance while a major political party and its affiliates remain legally prohibited from participating in elections.
The continued ban, Hasina has argued, effectively disenfranchises a significant section of the country’s population and raises questions about the legitimacy of the electoral process.
Hasina Alleges Human Rights Violations
The communication alleges that the ban violates four provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR): Article 19, which guarantees freedom of expression; Article 21, covering peaceful assembly; Article 22, which protects freedom of association; and Article 25, which guarantees political rights.
At A Glance
Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s legal team approached UN human rights experts seeking urgent intervention against the ban on the Awami League.
The communication alleges that the February 2026 elections which brought Tarique Rahman’s BNP to power were not free, fair, or inclusive.
The appeal argues that the political ban violates four provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Sheikh Hasina has vowed to return to Bangladesh in December despite facing a death penalty following her ouster in August 2024.
It further argues that the ban lacks a legitimate justification, is disproportionate and does not provide adequate safeguards.
Hasina has also cited attacks on Awami League supporters and alleged that the prevailing circumstances have made it difficult for the party to instruct lawyers and challenge the ban in Bangladeshi courts.
Three UN Experts Urged To Intervene
The communication calls on three UN mandate holders to take urgent action: the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights While Countering Terrorism; the Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association; and the Independent Expert on the Promotion of a Democratic and Equitable International Order.
A statement by Matrix Chambers said the communication urges the experts to issue a public statement calling for free, fair and inclusive elections in Bangladesh.
In effect, Hasina is seeking international pressure on the BNP government to hold fresh elections in which the Awami League is allowed to participate.
The appeal places the question of the Awami League’s political future and the inclusivity of Bangladesh’s electoral process before UN human rights experts, even as the party remains barred from participating in the country’s formal political contest.
Interestingly, Hasina has vowed to return to Bangladesh this December, where she faces a death penalty. She was ousted in a mass uprising in August 2024, following which she fled to India.
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Ask News18Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s legal team approached UN experts to seek urgent intervention against the continued ban on the Awami League and to call for fresh, free, fair, and inclusive elections.
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Anindya Banerjee, Associate Editor brings over fifteen years of journalistic courage to the forefront. With a keen focus on politics and policy, Anindya has garnered a wealth of experience, with deep …Read More
October 27, 2026, 11:24 PM IST
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