The Awami League, Bangladesh’s longest-serving political party, will not be allowed to contest upcoming elections, a senior advisor to the country’s interim government has declared, intensifying concerns over political exclusion and democratic backsliding. Mahfuj Alam, the Information and Broadcasting Advisor in Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus’ interim government, described the Awami League as a “transplanted force from abroad,” accusing it of being controlled by external interests. “The strings of this kite (Awami League) are held in Delhi. This kite will no longer be allowed to fly in Bangladesh,” Alam was quoted as saying by leading Bengali daily Prothom Alo. His comments