New Delhi continues to interfere in Dhaka’s internal affairs by expressing concern over the interim government’s ban on the activities of the Bangladesh Awami League.

"The ban on the Awami League without due process is a concerning development," said Spokesperson at the Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal during a regular media briefing in New Delhi on Tuesday.

As a democracy, he said, India is naturally concerned at the "curtailment of democratic freedoms and shrinking political space."

"We strongly support the early holding of free, fair and inclusive elections in Bangladesh," said the MEA spokesperson.

The government has issued a gazette notification banning all activities of the Bangladesh Awami League and its affiliated organisations under the Anti-Terrorism Act until the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) completes the trial of the party’s leaders and activists.

The interim government has repeatedly urged New Delhi to refrain from interfering in Bangladesh's internal affairs.

"Bangladesh refrains from commenting on the internal affairs of other countries and expects the same from other nations," Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin told reporters on December 9, 2024, during a visit by Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri aimed at normalizing bilateral ties.

Noting that elections are entirely Bangladesh's internal matter, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam today said the wounds caused by the crimes against humanity perpetrated by Awami League are still fresh, according to BSS.

"The wounds caused by the crimes against humanity perpetrated by this party are still fresh," he told BSS in his reaction to India's comments on the ban of AL activities.

"We have witnessed how Awami League completely destroyed our democratic fabric, severely squeezed our political space and compromised our sovereignty during its 15-year long tyrannical and kleptocratic rule," Alam said.

He reiterated that the ban on activities of the AL is necessary to protect national security and sovereignty, ensure the safety of July Movement activists and safeguard plaintiffs and witnesses of the International Crimes Tribunal.

"As for elections, we recall how the Awami League repeatedly resorted to grossly farcical elections and caused irreparable damages to our electoral processes and institutions," the press secretary said.

The interim government, he said, is engaged in a reform process to rebuild the country's democratic system.

"Elections are entirely our internal matter. We urge all to respect the sovereign will of our people in matters relating to elections," Alam said.