Bangladesh bars Hasina's party from contesting polls

Bangladesh's Election Commission has suspended the registration of ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League, effectively barring the party from contesting the next national elections.

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The move comes after the interim government of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus banned all activities of the Awami League under the Anti-Terrorism Act after days of protests.

The government cited national security threats and a war crimes investigation under way against the party’s top leadership over the deaths of hundreds of protesters.

“With the home ministry’s ban on all activities of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations, the Election Commission has decided to suspend the party's registration,” Election Commission Secretary Akhtar Ahmed told reporters late on Monday.

Under Bangladesh's electoral laws, a political party must be registered with the Election Commission to participate in national polls.

The suspension means the Awami League - which led the country for more than 20 years - is now officially disqualified from contesting future elections unless the ban is lifted and the registration restored.