Former PM warns exclusion of Awami League could push Bangladesh into deeper political crisis
New Delhi, India | Web Desk: Exiled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has rejected Bangladesh’s upcoming general elections scheduled for February 12, calling them unrepresentative and dangerous for national stability. Speaking from India, Hasina warned that excluding her party, the Awami League, from the electoral process could plunge the country into a prolonged political crisis.
In an emailed statement to international media, Sheikh Hasina said that elections lacking transparency, inclusivity, and fairness cannot restore democracy in Bangladesh. She accused the interim government of deliberately sidelining her party, effectively disenfranchising millions of voters and undermining democratic norms.
Hasina argued that barring a major political force fuels public anger, weakens state institutions, and lays the groundwork for long-term instability. “A divided nation cannot be united by a government formed through exclusion,” she stated, emphasizing the need for political reconciliation.
The February 12 vote marks Bangladesh’s first general election since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government. The interim administration is led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, who has pledged to ensure free and fair elections. According to the Election Commission, around 500 international observers, including delegations from the European Union and the Commonwealth, have been invited to monitor the polls.
However, several human rights organizations have raised concerns over political freedoms, minority rights, and media independence ahead of the vote. Meanwhile, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Tarique Rahman has emerged as a strong contender, while an alliance led by a religious party is also contesting the elections.
Sheikh Hasina, who was sentenced to death in absentia in a 2024 case linked to student protest killings—a verdict she has outright rejected—called for an end to political bans and boycotts. She stressed that only an inclusive democratic process can allow Bangladesh to heal and move forward.
