In a significant move, two senior lawyers from the UK&rsquo;s Doughty Street Chambers have appealed to the United Nations to intervene in Bangladesh&rsquo;s ongoing political crisis, urging the lifting of the ban on the Awami League. The request, addressed to the UN Independent Expert on the Promotion of a Democratic International Order and other UN Special Rapporteurs, calls for the Yunus-led interim government to allow the Awami League to participate fully in upcoming elections.
Barristers Steven Powles KC and Alex Tinsley stressed the urgency of holding free and fair elections, warning that the current ban undermines human rights, the rule of law, and democratic principles in Bangladesh. Since Muhammad Yunus assumed leadership in August last year, Awami League supporters and minority communities have reportedly faced widespread attacks, many going unpunished under what critics describe as &ldquo;blanket immunity&rdquo; for perpetrators.
The interim government has scheduled elections for February 2026 but has restricted all Awami League activities until legal proceedings against its leaders conclude. Reports from local media indicate a continued crackdown, with over 1,500 party members arrested in recent weeks, including prominent online activist Kamal Pasha Chowdhury.
Awami League leaders have condemned the arrests, calling them politically motivated and part of a broader collapse of the justice system. The party warns of an alarming rise in fabricated legal cases, mob violence, and political retribution since the removal of Sheikh Hasina&rsquo;s elected government.

UK Lawyers Urge UN to Lift Ban on Awami League

Barristers press UN to restore party’s rights, demand fair polls in Bangladesh

UK Lawyers Urge UN to Lift Ban on Awami League

Barristers press UN to restore party’s rights, demand fair polls in Bangladesh

August 10, 2025 | 17:05 IST