From her exile in India, former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has strongly criticized the upcoming February 12 election, arguing that excluding her Awami League party will disenfranchise millions of supporters and fuel prolonged instability. In an email to The Associated Press, Hasina stated that the interim government under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has deliberately sidelined her party, creating conditions that undermine democratic legitimacy and national unity.
Hasina emphasized that denying political participation to a large segment of the population breeds resentment, weakens institutions, and sets the stage for future unrest. “A government born of exclusion cannot unite a divided nation,” she wrote, calling for truly inclusive, free, and fair elections to allow Bangladesh to heal from recent divisions. She also acknowledged imperfections in past elections during her tenure—some affected by major party boycotts—but urged all political forces to break the cycle of exclusion and bans.
The February 12 vote is Bangladesh’s first national election since Hasina fled to India on August 5, 2024, following a violent student-led uprising that ended her 15-year rule. Over 127 million voters will choose a new parliament and decide on a proposed constitutional referendum for major political reforms. Campaigning is underway, but questions linger about security, inclusivity, and the overall credibility of the process under Yunus’s caretaker administration.
Also Read: Bangladesh Braces for First Election Without Hasina as Awami League Supporters Grapple with Uncertainty
Yunus’s office has assured voters that security forces will maintain order and prevent coercion or violence, while inviting international observers—including teams from the European Union and Commonwealth—to monitor the polls. The Election Commission anticipates around 500 foreign observers on election day.
Since Hasina’s ouster, Bangladesh has faced significant challenges, including reported arbitrary arrests of Awami League members, attacks on minorities (particularly Hindus), rising influence of Islamist groups, and concerns over press freedom. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Tarique Rahman—who returned from 17 years of exile in December—has positioned itself as a leading contender, facing competition from a Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party Islamist alliance.
Hasina has rejected her in-absentia death sentence for crimes against humanity related to the 2024 uprising crackdown as the product of a “kangaroo court,” a view echoed by some international rights organizations questioning the trial’s fairness. As the election nears, her comments from exile underscore the deep political fault lines and high stakes involved in Bangladesh’s transition to a post-Hasina era.
Also Read: Bangladesh Braces for First Election Without Hasina as Awami League Supporters Grapple with Uncertainty