US Lawmakers Warn Bangladesh: Awami League Ban Threatens Free Elections

• US lawmakers expressed concerns over Bangladesh's interim government banning the Awami League ahead of the February elections.
• A letter was sent to interim chief adviser Muhammad Yunus, urging an inclusive electoral process and reforms for state institutions.
• Lawmakers warned against banning political parties or using controversial legal mechanisms like the International Crimes Tribunal without safeguards.
• They cited past elections (2018, 2024) failing international standards and a UN report on 1,400 protest deaths by security forces.
• The ban on Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina, was imposed under a revised Anti-Terrorism Act, pending trials by the International Crimes Tribunal.

Why It Matters: US warns Bangladesh that banning Awami League undermines democratic elections and human rights.