The High Court on Sunday summarily rejected a writ petition seeking to cancel the registration of the Awami League as a political party.

The petition alleged the party’s involvement in the mass killings of students during the uprising from July 16 to August 5, which led to the fall of prime minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5.

The bench, composed of Justices AKM Asaduzzaman and Mahbub Ul Islam, dismissed the petition filed by Arifur Rahman Murad Bhuiyan, a non-government organisation activist, on the grounds of public interest.

The court observed that the petition was not maintainable as it failed to include the Awami League and the Election Commission as respondents, thus preventing a proper contestation of the case.

When questioned about the Awami League’s alleged involvement in crimes during the student-led movement, petitioner Murad claimed that leaders and affiliated bodies of the party were engaged in criminal activities during the unrest.

The court further noted that the interim government was committed to prosecuting those individuals responsible for the subversive acts.

Earlier, attorney general Md Asaduzzaman argued for the petition’s summary dismissal, stating that the NGO activist lacked the legal standing to request a ban on a political party.

He also emphasised that the interim government had no policy to ban political parties, as it would infringe upon fundamental rights such as freedom of speech, assembly and association.

He added that entertaining such a petition would risk tarnishing the judiciary’s image.