The Bangladesh government aims to outlaw the Awami League (AL) as a political entity through the judiciary rather than via an administrative decree, due to the party's alleged complicity in genocide and crimes against humanity during the July-August Mass Uprising 2024, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said on Thursday.

Addressing members of the press regarding contemporary national matters at the Home Ministry inside the Secretariat, the minister clarified the administration's stance on the issue.

“We in principle want Awami League to be banned as political party in due course of the law rather the administrative process. It is the earlier stand of the BNP,” he stated.

Ahmed elaborated that the legal framework required to prosecute the AL as an organization has been established by amending the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Act.

This adjustment aligns with Article 47 of the Bangladesh Constitution, providing the legal basis to hold trials for three specific offenses: war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.

The Home Minister pointed out that while the law previously allowed for the prosecution of individuals only, the newly updated provisions now permit organizations to face trial as well.

Furthermore, the minister emphasized the widespread public consensus that the AL bears responsibility for the atrocities and genocide committed during the uprising, asserting that the party must be held accountable through a comprehensive legal probe.

He concluded by explaining that the formal trial against the AL will commence once the investigative team submits its charge sheet to the tribunal, a judicial process that will ultimately determine the political future of the party.