Dhaka, Dec 24 (NationPress) The Press Secretary for Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus reaffirmed the interim government's position that the Awami League will be prohibited from participating in the forthcoming elections set for February in Bangladesh.

"Our stance regarding the Awami League is unequivocal," Shafiqul Alam stated during a briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka. He emphasized that the Awami League's political activities and its registration as a party are currently suspended, according to a report by the United News of Bangladesh (UNB).

Alam's comments followed inquiries about a letter sent to Yunus from five US lawmakers on December 23, highlighting the necessity for "inclusive, free, and fair elections." He claimed he was unaware of the letter's contents.

Among the signatories were Gregory W. Meeks, the Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, alongside Bill Huizenga and Sydney Kamlager-Dove, who serve as Chair and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on South and Central Asia, respectively. Julie Johnson and Tom Suozzi also co-signed the correspondence.

In a separate statement, former Member of Parliament A F M Bahauddin Nasim accused the Yunus-led interim government of transforming Bangladesh into a terrorist state and attempting to transfer control to Pakistan.

In an exclusive interview with IANS, Nasim, who also holds the position of Joint General Secretary of the Awami League, expressed that Yunus's administration has brought the nation to a critical point of collapse, marked by riots, violence, and a breakdown of law and order.

"There are rampant riots, destruction, and killings occurring. Members of the Awami League are being targeted, as are religious minorities, with their properties being set ablaze. Individuals who supported the Awami League are also facing threats. This chaos has persisted for over 16 months, with the intent of driving Bangladesh towards total destruction," the former MP articulated.

Nasim's remarks come amid escalating violence that has swept across Bangladesh in recent months, leading to widespread property damage and assaults on religious minorities, particularly the Hindus.

"Fundamentalist and terrorist factions are gaining traction in Bangladesh, linked with Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Chhatra Shibir, and even the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. They appear to be collaborating with the oppressive Yunus government, pushing the country toward ruin. The current regime seems set on converting Bangladesh into a terrorist haven and yielding control to Pakistan. Presently, there is no rule of law, no administration, and no rights for the populace, including freedom of speech and press," Nasim stated.

After the Awami League government, led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was ousted in August 2024, Nasim fled to India. He remarked that the turmoil in Bangladesh has been ongoing for over 14 months and highlighted significant influence from Pakistan and its Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in the country.

"Muhammad Yunus shows a clear pro-Pakistan bias, and his connections with the ISI are evident. We are witnessing shipments from Karachi arriving in Bangladesh with grain—something unseen in the past 54 years. We used to import rice from India at reasonable prices, but now we are compelled to source it from Pakistan. What benefits are they trying to reap financially? Bangladesh is a sovereign nation, and we fought against Pakistani rule. We cannot surrender our country to them," Nasim concluded.