Bangladesh’s interim government banned the student group of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday.
The interim government announced this decision, citing the student body’s involvement in violent attacks against student protests that led to the overthrow of Sheikh Hasina’s government in August.
Sheikh Hasina fled Bangladesh in August, marking the end of her 15-year rule. After she left, the crowd ransacked Ganabhaban. She wanted to record a farewell speech, but with the sea of protesters fast approaching Ganabhaban, the army gave her 45 minutes to pack up and leave Bangladesh to save her life.
“The government of Bangladesh has banned the Bangladesh Chhatra League – the student wing of the Bangladesh Awami League – under the Anti-Terrorism Act,” said an official statement quoted by the AFP news agency in its report.
According to a government notification, the Chatra League, the student wing of the Awami League, has faced multiple charges during the party’s last three terms. They include accusations of “murders, persecution, torture… and many other activities that threaten public security.”
The notice mentioned that Chatra League has been banned with immediate effect under the provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009.
Protests against Hasina’s government, which began peacefully in July, turned violent after members of the Chhatra League attacked student demonstrators on university campuses.
Attempts by pro-government groups to quell the protests only increased public anger, leading to Hasina’s ouster weeks later.
Officials estimated that more than 700 people were killedmostly in clashes between police and anti-Hasina protesters.
This month, a Bangladeshi court issued an arrest warrant for Hasina, who fled to India the day she was ousted from power.
Dozens of Hasina’s allies have been detained since her government collapsed, accused of involvement in the police crackdown.
Former ministers and senior members of the Awami League were arrested and its appointees removed from the courts and the central bank.
