Staff Correspondent:

The interim government is closely monitoring the overseas activities of the Awami League, despite the party being banned within Bangladesh, said Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam.

He made the remarks during a press conference at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital on Sunday, August 10, held ahead of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus’ upcoming visit to Malaysia from August 11 to 13.

Responding to a question about the Awami League’s operations from abroad, particularly the establishment of a new party office in Kolkata of India, Shafiqul said: “The Awami League is banned in Bangladesh. While their activities are prohibited here, we are actively monitoring what they are doing outside the country.”

He added: “We are also keeping a close watch if any of their activities from abroad are aimed at creating instability within Bangladesh. Should we receive specific intelligence, we will share it with the public in due course.”

The press briefing was attended by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Shah Asif Rahman and Deputy Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser Abul Kalam Azad Majumdar.

According to media reports, after Sheikh Hasina fled the country on 5 August 2024, Awami League leaders and activists in India initially conducted limited party activities from private residences. However, in recent weeks, they have reportedly opened a formal ‘party office’ in a commercial complex in Kolkata. The office is said to be frequented by former senior and mid-level party leaders.

The interim government has maintained a firm stance on political activities linked to the deposed regime, iterating that no organisation banned in Bangladesh will be allowed to operate indirectly from abroad if it threatens national stability.