Anti-discrimination student movement leaders Sarjis Alam and Hasnat Abdullah filed a writ petition in the High Court on Monday, seeking a ban on the Awami League as a political party. The petition is expected to be reviewed by a High Court bench comprising Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Sikder Mahmudur Razi. This development follows the government’s ban on the Awami League’s student wing, Chhatra League, imposed on October 23. Earlier, a mass student-led movement forced the Awami League government from power on August 5, paving the way for an interim government led by Dr. Yunus. The interim administration, which assumed office three days later, pledged to implement reforms and ensure a free, fair, and neutral election. Despite these changes, a senior Awami League leader recently announced plans to resume political activities and protest against the interim government within the coming weeks. On Monday evening, Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder clarified that the interim government has not yet decided to ban any political party. Speaking at a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy, he emphasized that advisers are currently discussing the matter to achieve a political consensus. “The government is engaging with leaders from the student movement and stakeholders from the July-August uprising to reach a decision. We are striving to resolve this through consultation with all political parties,” Azad said. Anti-discrimination student movement leaders Sarjis Alam and Hasnat Abdullah filed a writ petition in the High Court on Monday, seeking a ban on the Awami League as a political party. The petition is expected to be reviewed by a High Court bench comprising Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Sikder Mahmudur Razi. This development follows the government’s ban on the Awami League’s student wing, Chhatra League, imposed on October 23. Earlier, a mass student-led movement forced the Awami League government from power on August 5, paving the way for an interim government led by Dr. Yunus. The interim administration, which assumed office three days later, pledged to implement reforms and ensure a free, fair, and neutral election. Despite these changes, a senior Awami League leader recently announced plans to resume political activities and protest against the interim government within the coming weeks. Addressing the issue on Monday evening, Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder clarified that the interim government has not yet decided to ban any political party. Speaking at a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy, he emphasized that advisers are currently discussing the matter to achieve a political consensus. “The government is engaging with leaders from the student movement and stakeholders from the July-August uprising to reach a decision. We are striving to resolve this through consultation with all political parties,” Azad said. Anti-discrimination student movement leaders Sarjis Alam and Hasnat Abdullah filed a writ petition in the High Court on Monday, seeking a ban on the Awami League as a political party. The petition is expected to be reviewed by a High Court bench comprising Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Sikder Mahmudur Razi. This development follows the government’s ban on the Awami League’s student wing, Chhatra League, imposed on October 23. Earlier, a mass student-led movement forced the Awami League government from power on August 5, paving the way for an interim government led by Dr. Yunus. The interim administration, which assumed office three days later, pledged to implement reforms and ensure a free, fair, and neutral election. Despite these changes, a senior Awami League leader recently announced plans to resume political activities and protest against the interim government within the coming weeks. Addressing the issue on Monday evening, Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder clarified that the interim government has not yet decided to ban any political party. Speaking at a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy, he emphasized that advisers are currently discussing the matter to achieve a political consensus. “The government is engaging with leaders from the student movement and stakeholders from the July-August uprising to reach a decision. We are striving to resolve this through consultation with all political parties,” Azad said. At the press briefing, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam referenced an earlier statement by Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan concerning the potential removal of the President. He added that consultations with political parties would take place, and the outcomes would be shared once a conclusion is reached. In response to a question regarding the extradition of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Alam stated that there were no updates on the matter.            

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman has stated that the Awami League possesses “no moral right” to engage in politics due to its alleged involvement in "genocide." Speaking at a discussion held at the Institution of Engineers Bangladesh Auditorium in Dhaka on Monday to commemorate the victims of the October 28, 2006 ‘Logi-Boitha’ violence, Shafiqur condemned the party's historical actions. He remarked, “In 1996, the Awami League's leader declared that if one of their members was killed, they would retaliate by taking ten lives. This time, they did not verbalize it, but their actions spoke volumes. To express their anger against the nation, they murdered innocent people and incinerated their bodies with petrol. And now, they dare to claim they want to participate in politics and contest elections again.” “How can those who have fought against the nation seek votes in an election? They have no moral right to do so,” he added. The Jamaat-e-Islami chief said the Awami League had transformed this country into a state of turmoil. “In 1996, they [Awami League] pleaded for forgiveness for past crimes, asking the public for one opportunity to demonstrate patriotism. The public granted it, and in return, they gifted us bloodshed and corpses.” The Jamaat-e-Islami leader also spoke on the nation’s political climate, stressing the importance of unity among citizens against fascism. “Those of us engaged in politics must be vigilant, especially on matters of national crises and interests. We must not allow divisions in these fundamental areas,” he added United We Stand Against Fascism: Mirza Abbas BNP Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas emphasized the need for unity among political parties to rebuild the country. He stated, “To advance our nation, all factions—Jamaat-e-Islami, BNP, and others—must set aside their differences and collaborate towards a common goal.” He warned, “If we fail to unite, our neighboring country, India, will continue to manipulate our nation for the foreseeable future. This is unacceptable.” Abbas expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of their prolonged struggle, noting, “We achieved our objective on August 5—a Bangladesh free from Hasina. Now, we strive for a Bangladesh without the Awami League.” He further asserted, “The Awami League and democracy cannot coexist. While we are relieved that they are no longer in power, we cannot fully celebrate. Their loyalists remain entrenched in politics, culture, the secretariat, and the military. True democracy cannot be established in Bangladesh as long as they persist.” He urged vigilance against these “accomplices of fascism” and called for justice for all those involved in the murders during the Logi-Boitha movement.  

Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur has accused business tycoons linked to the former Sheikh Hasina regime of colluding with the military intelligence agency to siphon $17 billion from the banking sector during her rule. In an interview with the Financial Times, Mansur, who assumed his role as governor after Hasina fled Bangladesh in August, claimed the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) facilitated hostile takeovers of major banks. He estimated that approximately Tk 2 trillion ($16.7 billion) was moved out of Bangladesh through tactics such as loans to new shareholders and inflated import invoices. “This is the largest bank heist by international standards,” Mansur told the Financial Times. “It didn’t happen anywhere on this scale. It was state-sponsored and couldn’t have occurred without intelligence agents putting guns to bank CEOs’ heads.” Mansur directly accused Mohammed Saiful Alam, chairman of the industrial conglomerate S Alam Group, and his associates of siphoning at least $10 billion from the banking sector with alleged DGFI support. Responding to the allegations, law firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, representing S Alam, rejected Mansur’s claims, denouncing them as false. The firm accused the interim government of a “coordinated campaign” against S Alam Group and other leading businesses, disregarding “basic principles of due process.” It added, “This campaign has undermined investor confidence and worsened law and order. The accusations against the Group are surprising and unjustified, given its record and contributions.” The UK-based Financial Times reported it was unable to reach the DGFI or the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate for comment. Hasina, who governed Bangladesh for over two decades, fled to India in August following a student-led mass uprising citing allegations of vote rigging, political repression, and rampant corruption. The interim government, now led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has pledged to recover funds allegedly misappropriated by Hasina’s regime and its affiliates. Mansur, a former International Monetary Fund official, told the Financial Times he has sought assistance from the UK to track overseas assets linked to Hasina’s allies. He alleged that during Hasina’s rule, intelligence officials forcibly removed bank board members and pressured them at gunpoint to transfer their shares to “Mr S Alam” and resign. Former Islami Bank Bangladesh CEO Mohammad Abdul Mannan corroborated similar incidents, telling the Financial Times he faced pressure from “people connected to the then-government” as early as 2013 to appoint board members favoured by the prime minister’s office. Mannan also recounted an incident where government-linked individuals conducted a search of a hotel room occupied by a foreign bank director. In January 2017, Mannan claimed he was detained by a senior defence official en route to a board meeting and held until he agreed to resign. Recently appointed as chairman of First Security Islami Bank under central bank oversight, Mannan alleged that fake resignation letters on bank letterhead were prepared for forced resignations.