A court forced the postponement of elections in Bangladesh by three months or till electoral rolls are revamped and the government has banned political and trade union activities and restricted "provocative news.”

Passing the order, the High Court ordered the Election Commission (EC) to explain why transparent ballot boxes and proper voter identity cards cannot be prepared ahead of polls. Since the EC has not challenged this ruling, elections remained postponed unless challenged in the Supreme Court (SC).

Meanwhile, the new Bangladesh interim government banned all political and trade union activities and restricted "provocative news" in all media and also restricted processions, demonstrations, hartals, strikes, lockouts, and trade union activities. Authorities say that this is the only way they can “ensure security” and “maintain discipline in public life.” Pass as an ordinance, the new restrictions can empower the government to ban any newspaper, book, document, printing press, or equipment of electronic media if it considers them as violating the government order or circumventing its restrictions.