Writ petitions seek restriction on activities of AL, 10 other parties

Two writ petitions were filed with the High Court on Monday, seeking restrictions on the activities of the ousted Awami League (AL) and 10 other political parties, while not seeking a blanket ban on the party itself.

The rest 10 parties include Jatiya Party (Japa), Jatiya Party (JP), Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasod), Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh, Bangladesh Tarikat Federation, Liberal Democratic Party, Ganatantri Dal, Socialist Party of Bangladesh, Communist Party of Bangladesh and Marxism-Leninism (Barua).

Three people, including Anti-Discrimination Student Movement’s Convener Hasnat Abdullah and July Martyrs Memorial Foundation’s General Secretary Sarjis Alam, filed the writ petition with the relevant section of the High Court.

An HC bench, comprising Justice Fatema Nazib and Justice Sikdar Md Mahmudur Rajib, is expected to hear the petition shortly.

Advocate Ahsanul Karim, who represented the petitioners, said that the writ aims to prevent AL leaders from engaging in political activities.

He said that the move is intended to uphold public interest amid ongoing political developments.

This latest petition follows a prior application filed in August, which called for a full ban on the AL but it was subsequently rejected by a High Court dual bench headed by Justice AKM Asaduzzaman on September 1.

On October 23, the interim government imposed a ban on AL’s student wing, the Bangladesh Chhatra League, citing provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Formed on June 23, 1949, the Awami League has been facing mounting challenges after its president and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left the country following a student-led uprising on August 5.