TDS Desk:

The advisory council on Sunday (May 11) approved proposals to include a new provision in the Anti-Terrorism Act to ban media from publishing any press statement in support of or on behalf of the Awami League, which is set to be banned from tomorrow.

In a Facebook post, Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud disclosed the information soon after Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus gave in-principle and final approval to the draft of the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, with provision to ban activities of individuals or entities involved in terrorist activities.

Photo: Collected

“The publication or printing of any press statement on behalf of or in support of the Awami League, or any kind of campaigning in the media, online, social media or any other medium, or the organisation of processions, meetings or press conferences or giving public speeches, shall be prohibited,” the youth adviser wrote.

Earlier, in a press statement, the CA Press Wing said the draft amendments include a new provision that will ban the activities of any banned entities or individuals.

As there is no provision in the present Act regarding the banning of activities of any entity, it was appropriate and necessary to further amend the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009 to make it timely, reads the press statement.

In this context, amendments have been made to the Anti-Terrorism Act to include provisions for banning the activities of entities, as well as necessary adaptations, and restrictions on dissemination through online and social media platforms.

To fulfill the objectives of this Act, the government, based on reasonable grounds, may, through notification in an official gazette, list a person involved in terrorist activities in the schedule, or declare an entity as banned and list it in the schedule.

The amendment is expected to be issued as an ordinance on Monday (May 12).

This comes after an amendment to the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973, to empower the tribunals to try Awami League on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity and punish it if found guilty.

Amidst protests demanding a ban on the Awami League (AL), the amendments have been brought to the law to try the party.

An official order officially banning the party is set to be issued on Monday (12 May).

The interim government at an emergency Advisory Council meeting last night decided to ban the party under the anti-terror laws.