Bangladesh's Election Commission has suspended the registration of the ruling Awami League as a political party, hours after the government imposed a ban on its political activities.

EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed made the announcement at a press briefing in Dhaka at 9:00 pm on Monday.

Earlier in the day, the government issued a notification prohibiting all political activities of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations, citing ongoing trials of party members at the International Crimes Tribunal.

The suspension is expected to remain in effect until the legal proceedings are concluded, though no timeline was provided.

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