As Bangladesh voted on Thursday to elect the new government, former prime minister Sheikh Hasina called the polls a well-planned farce and demanded the resignation of Muhammad Yunus.
Hasina, who has been staying in India since she fled the country after her ouster in massive nationwide protests in August 2024, which also led to the removal of the Awami League from power, stated that the spirit of the Constitution was completely disregarded.
"Today's so-called election by Yunus, who seized power illegally and unconstitutionally, was essentially a well-planned farce. The people's voting rights, democratic values, and the spirit of the Constitution were completely disregarded in this deceptive, voter-less election conducted without the Awami League," Hasina said in a statement posted on the official X handle of Awami League.
For the first time, the Awami League's electoral symbol, boat, did not appear on the ballot paper as the party which governed Bangladesh for more than two decades has been barred from contesting the election. Following the July 2024 mass uprising, the interim government imposed a ban on all activities of the party on May 12 last year. Soon afterward, the Election Commission suspended the party's registration.
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"From the evening of 11 February, this farce began with seizure of polling centers, gunfire, vote-buying, distribution of money, stamping of ballots, and agents signing result sheets. By the morning of 12 February, voter turnout was negligible in most polling centers nationwide, and in many centers across the capital and other areas, there were no voters at all," claimed Hasina.
The ousted Prime Minister also claimed that an abnormal increase in voter numbers were observed in voter lists, especially in Dhaka city, which raises serious questions and is highly suspicious.
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"It is important to note that in the preceding days, continuous attacks, arrests, intimidation, and fear were inflicted on Awami League voters, supporters, well-wishers, and minority communities, forcing them toward polling centers. Even so, despite all the threats and harassment, people rejected this fraudulent election, leaving most polling centers effectively empty," she added.
The party called for the resignation of Yunus and demanded the release of all “political prisoners, including teachers, journalists, and intellectuals, and the withdrawal of all false cases."
The party also demanded the revocation of the suspension on Awami League activities.
It called for the holding of “free, fair, and inclusive elections under a neutral caretaker government."
The government has said that the ban on the Awami League will remain in place until trials at the International Crimes Tribunal are completed.
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