Dhaka, Oct 24 (NationPress) Shafiqul Alam, the Press Secretary to Bangladesh's Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, stated on Friday that the Awami League will not participate in the upcoming national election set for February 2026, as reported by local media.

Speaking to reporters at the July Memorial Monument in Nabaganga Park along the Magura–Dhaka Road, Alam emphasized that the interim government faces neither local nor international pressure to involve the Awami League in the electoral process.

This announcement contrasts with Yunus's previous assertion that the Awami League's activities are currently paused but could resume at any moment.

In an interview with an international media outlet during the UN General Assembly in New York last month, Yunus remarked, "The Awami League remains a valid party, though its activities are temporarily suspended. They can be reinstated at any time."

When asked if this meant the party's activities could be "unsuspended," Yunus replied, "That’s a possibility," according to The Daily Star.

Since the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last August, the interim government led by Yunus has intensified its crackdown on Awami League leaders and activists, with many facing unjust imprisonment and some reportedly dying in custody.

Recent reports indicate that Hasina and several of her family members will be prohibited from voting in next year’s election due to their National Identity (NID) Cards being blocked, a move aimed at stripping them of their political rights.

Election Commission (EC) Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed informed reporters that "anyone whose NID card has been locked cannot vote from abroad. Those who have fled abroad for legal reasons can vote, provided their NID is unlocked."

When inquired about Hasina's voting eligibility, he confirmed, "She cannot vote because her NID is blocked."

Earlier in July, the EC removed the election symbol of Hasina's Awami League from its website, seeking to terminate the party's long-standing political presence in the nation.

On May 12, the Yunus-led interim government released a gazette banning all activities of the Awami League and its affiliated organizations.

This ban was enforced under the 'Anti-Terrorism Act' until the trial of the party and its leaders at Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) concludes.

Analysts view these recent actions as part of a broader political vendetta by Yunus's interim government against former PM Hasina and her party leaders.