Banned Awami League Stages Flash Protests Across Dhaka, Over 800 Arrested Ahead of Bangladesh Elections

Awami League Defies Ban with Flash Protests

Supporters of the Bangladesh Awami League, the political party outlawed earlier this year, are staging flash mob protests across Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. These demonstrations are occurring in defiance of a government ban and come ahead of national elections anticipated in February 2026. Officials from the interim government have reported that more than 800 individuals have been arrested in connection with these flash protests.

The Ban on a Former Ruling Party

The Awami League, which governed Bangladesh for 15 years under former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was overthrown in a mass uprising in August 2024. An interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, subsequently assumed power. On May 10, 2025, the interim government officially banned all activities of the Awami League under the Anti-Terrorism Act. This was followed on May 12, 2025, by the Election Commission of Bangladesh suspending the party's registration, effectively barring it from participating in future elections. The ban is set to remain in place until the International Crimes Tribunal completes trials against the party and its leaders.

Nature of the Demonstrations

The protests are characterized as 'flash mob protests' or 'flash processions,' designed to be spontaneous and quickly dispersed to evade police action. These demonstrations are reportedly encouraged by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's calls on social media for her loyalists to 'resist'. Witnesses describe small groups, sometimes numbering around 25 individuals, gathering briefly to chant slogans before vanishing into crowds. Videos of these spontaneous rallies are frequently shared on social media platforms.

Arrests and Government Response

The interim government has responded to these unauthorized gatherings with a crackdown, leading to numerous arrests. Dhaka police spokesman Md Talebur Rahman stated that 'more than 800 people' have been arrested in connection with the flash mobs. On a single day, September 24, 2025, police in Dhaka arrested 244 activists of the disbanded Awami League and its affiliated organizations during flash processions. During these arrests, authorities also seized items such as crude bombs and banners. The government has indicated that these actions are aimed at maintaining law and order and preventing attempts to destabilize the country ahead of the upcoming elections.