DHAKA, Jan 29: Bangladesh’s ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina has sharply criticized the country’s upcoming Feb. 12 election from exile in India, warning that the vote risks deepening political instability because her party has been barred from participating.
In remarks sent by email to The Associated Press, Hasina said elections that exclude major political forces cannot be free or legitimate and will only fuel resentment and unrest.
Hasina was removed from power in 2024 following a mass student-led uprising that ended her 15-year rule.
Hundreds were killed during the unrest, and she was later sentenced to death in absentia for crimes against humanity related to the crackdown—charges she rejects, calling the trial unfair.
After fleeing to India in August 2024, she has remained politically vocal.
She accused the interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus of deliberately disenfranchising millions of voters by banning her party, the Awami League.
Without inclusive elections, she warned, Bangladesh risks prolonged instability and weakened democratic institutions. “A government born of exclusion cannot unite a divided nation,” she said.
The interim administration, which took power days after Hasina fled, has pledged to hold a free and fair election and says security forces will ensure order.
Around 127 million people are eligible to vote, and about 500 foreign observers are expected to monitor the polls. Voters will also consider a proposed constitutional referendum on major political reforms.
However, concerns persist over security, press freedom, minority rights and the growing influence of Islamist groups.
Critics have questioned whether the election can be genuinely inclusive given the Awami League’s exclusion. Hasina’s party has also alleged arbitrary arrests and abuses against its members, claims the government denies.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, led by Tarique Rahman, is widely seen as the frontrunner, with his main challenge coming from a coalition led by Jamaat-e-Islami.
Hasina argued that Bangladesh must end the cycle of bans and boycotts to heal politically, stressing the need for a legitimate government with genuine public consent. (PTI)
