Bangladesh on Monday issued a gazette notification formally banning all activities of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League party under a newly revised anti-terrorism law.

"Today, the Home Ministry issued the gazette notification banning all activities of the Awami League, including all its front, associate, and brotherly organisations," said Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd.) Jahangir Alam during a media briefing.

The notice declared that the Awami League and its affiliated organisations will remain banned under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2025 until Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) completes the trial of its leaders and activists, according to a Home Ministry official.

The official explained that Section 18 of the revised law gives the government the authority to declare any organisation or individual involved in terrorism as an entity to be banned, based on reasonable grounds. The original 2009 Anti-Terrorism Act did not contain a provision for banning an "entity."

The leaders of the Awami League are charged with crimes against humanity related to the deaths of several individuals during anti-government protests by a student platform last year. The protests led to the end of Hasina's 16-year rule on August 5.

On Saturday, the Cabinet of the interim government, headed by Muhammad Yunus, imposed a ban on "all activities of the Awami League," including in cyberspace, under the anti-terrorism law. This ban will remain in effect until the special tribunal completes its trial of the party and its leaders.

The following day, the Awami League rejected the interim government’s decision, vowing to continue its activities in an appropriate manner.

Monday’s development followed a new ordinance prohibiting the publication or dissemination of statements from individuals or organisations charged under the revised terrorism law.

On Sunday night, President Mohammed Shahabuddin signed an ordinance amending the Anti-Terrorism Act. The amendment prohibits any form of publicity, including press statements, social media content, or public gatherings in support of any individuals or entities tried under the law.

The revised law widened the restrictions by replacing the term "listed individuals or banned entities" with the broader phrase: "any individual or entity against whom action has been taken under sub-section (1) of Section 18" of the anti-terrorism law.

Formed in 1949, the Awami League led the movement for Bengali autonomy in the former East Pakistan for decades and played a significant role in the Liberation War of 1971.