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For the first time in three decades, the Awami League’s electoral symbol, the boat, will not appear on the ballot paper in a national election in Bangladesh.
One of the country’s oldest political parties, the Awami League has boycotted parliamentary elections twice in the past.
This time, however, it is unable to take part at all, as its registration remains suspended.
As a result, the party will not feature even on postal ballots.
The Awami League boycotted elections in 1988 and again in 1996 amid political movements.
In total, the boat symbol has been absent from the ballot paper in three of Bangladesh’s 13 parliamentary elections.
Following the July 2024 mass uprising that led to the removal of the Awami League from power, the interim government imposed a ban on all activities of the party on May 12 last year.
Soon afterwards, the Election Commission suspended the party’s registration.
The government has said the ban will remain in place until trials at the International Crimes Tribunal are completed.
The cases relate to allegations including enforced disappearances, killings, people being burned alive, illegal detention, inhuman torture, looting, arson and crimes against humanity committed during efforts to suppress the uprising.
As a result, the party, which governed Bangladesh for more than two decades across six separate terms, has been barred from contesting the election.