Awami League: From 1949 to 2025 

Amid growing protests seeking a ban on the Awami League, the Advisory Council of the interim government has decided to ban all activities of the party under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Advisory Council chaired by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus last night (10 May).

Besides, the meeting also approved an amendment to the International Crimes Tribunal Act to this end.

Here is a timeline of the Awami League's political journey, from its inception in 1949 to the ban in 2025.

1949 (23 June) – Formation of East Pakistan Awami Muslim League (EPAML)

• Founded at Rose Garden, Dhaka by Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, Maulana Bhashani, and Shamsul Huq
• Maulana Bhashani became president; Shamsul Huq general secretary
• Created as an alternative to the ruling Muslim League in East Pakistan

1953 – Sheikh Mujibur Rahman becomes General Secretary

• Marked the rise of a younger generation in the party

1955 – Party renamed to Awami League

• Dropped "Muslim" to adopt secular, inclusive identity

1957 – Bhashani leaves to form National Awami Party (NAP)

• Caused ideological and structural split

1958 – Ayub Khan bans all parties including AL

• Right before erstwhile Pakistan's first-ever direct election was supposed to be held, then military dictator General Ayub Khan imposed martial law in 1958 and banned all political parties, including AL

1966 – Six-Point Movement by Sheikh Mujib

• Called for autonomy of East Pakistan; laid groundwork for independence

1969 – Mass uprising and Mujib declared "Bangabandhu"

• Popular demand for regional rights culminated in mass protests

1970 – AL wins general elections in Pakistan

• Secured absolute majority but denied power by West Pakistani regime

1971 (26th March) – Yahya bans AL

• Then Pakistan President Gen Yahya Khan on 26 March 1971 completely banned AL along with other political parties

1971 (March–December) – Liberation War

• Mujib arrested; AL leaders formed government-in-exile
• Bangladesh became independent on 16 December

1972 – Awami League forms the first government of Bangladesh

• Sheikh Mujibur Rahman returned as Prime Minister

1975 (January) – BAKSAL and One-party Rule Introduced

• Move toward authoritarianism under Mujib's leadership

1975 (15 August) – Sheikh Mujib assassinated in a military coup

• Major turning point; AL leadership scattered

1981 – Sheikh Hasina elected AL President

• Rebuilding of the party begins from exile

1991 – Restoration of parliamentary democracy

• AL becomes key opposition party in new democratic era

1996 – AL returns to power

• Hasina becomes PM; peace accord and India treaties signed

2001 – Electoral defeat

• BNP returns; years marked by instability and political violence.

2008 – Landslide AL victory

• Start of prolonged AL rule under Sheikh Hasina.

2014 – Controversial election boycott by BNP

• AL wins amid low turnout and criticism

2018 – Massive electoral win amid allegations of vote rigging

• AL dominance continues, opposition marginalised

2024 (7 January) – Awami League wins election boycotted by BNP

• Sheikh Hasina extends tenure as the world's longest-serving female PM
• Opposition boycott and voter apathy marked the polls

2024 (5 August) – Awami League ousted by Student-Led Uprising

• Mass protests led by students over governance failures, authoritarianism
• Ousted AL government, party chief and PM Hasina fled to India