EC suspends banned AL's registration, disqualifies for JS elections

The Election Commission (EC) today (12 May) suspended the registration of Awami League.

EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed made the announcement following an emergency meeting held at the commission shortly after the Awami League and its affiliated organisations were officially banned from political activities. 

The 3.5-hour-long emergency meeting started at 5:45pm in the office of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), according to our reporter on the scene.

"Today, the Ministry of Home Affairs banned the activities of Bangladesh Awami League and its affiliated organisations. In continuation of this, the Election Commission decided to suspend the registration of Awami League," Akhtar said.

The EC issued a notification in this regard tonight. 

Registration with the EC is mandatory for any political party to qualify to contest in the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) election. 

Earlier in the day, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin said the Election Commission will make a decision on the Awami League's registration only after receiving the official gazette notification regarding the ban on the party.

A gazette notification has been issued banning the Awami League under the Anti-Terrorism Act. 

The development comes two days after the interim government decided to ban all activities of Awami League, including cyberspace, under the Anti Terrorism Act until the trial of the party and its leaders in the face of protests led by the National Citizen Party (NCP).

After the ban, the Awami League will lose its registration with the Election Commission as a parliamentary party under current electoral laws.

This would disqualify the party from contesting the next national election, as registration with the EC is mandatory to participate.