India has expressed deep concern over the decision to ban the Awami League and all its affiliates and sister organizations in Bangladesh. Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the interim government in Bangladesh has not followed the constitutional and legal procedures required to ban a political party in a democratic country. As a result, the issue is naturally of concern to India.
He made the remarks at a press briefing in the Indian capital New Delhi on Tuesday. This was the first regular briefing after the briefing was suspended for several weeks due to the recent military tensions between India and Pakistan. Responding to a question from journalists, Jaiswal said that the procedure of banning the Awami League is against democratic norms.
He said that there is a specific procedure for conducting political activities in a democracy. In banning an old and large political party like the Awami League, that procedure has been ignored, which is very worrying. Such a decision narrows the political space of the country and curtails democratic freedoms.
Jaiswal also said that India has always been in favor of free, fair, and inclusive elections for Bangladesh. According to India’s historical position, it is very important to ensure that political competition is peaceful and democratic.
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This decision by the Bangladesh interim government comes at a time when a major decision was taken at a special meeting of the Advisory Council on Saturday under the chairmanship of Professor Muhammad Yunus. The meeting said that all activities of the party will be banned until the trial of the Awami League and its leaders in the International Crimes Tribunal is completed. This ban also includes all the party’s organizations, comrades, and fraternal organizations, including cyberspace.
The next day, Monday, the government issued a notification stating that this ban will continue until the trial is completed and the protection of the tribunal’s plaintiffs and witnesses is ensured.
India’s concern makes it clear that as a neighboring country, India is aware of the future of Bangladesh’s democracy. The international community is now looking to Bangladesh to ensure that important decisions like banning political parties are transparent and constitutional.
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