Sheikh Hasina Demands Annulment of Bangladesh Polls, Accuses Yunus of Orchestrating ‘Farce’
Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday called for the cancellation of what she termed a “voterless, illegal and unconstitutional” election, alleging widespread irregularities and suppression of her Awami League party.
In a statement issued after polling concluded, Hasina said the vote lacked legitimacy as it was conducted without the participation of the Awami League. She claimed voters had effectively rejected the process, pointing to reports of low turnout across several regions.
Bangladesh Election Commission Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said voter turnout was below 50% as of 2 pm.
Hasina questioned the credibility of the electoral roll, alleging an “abnormal” increase in registered voters, particularly in Dhaka. She further claimed the polls were marred by intimidation, violence and alleged manipulation, including the capture of polling stations and coercion of polling agents.
Describing interim leader Muhammad Yunus as having assumed power through “illegal and unconstitutional means”, she accused his administration of organising a “carefully planned” election that disregarded democratic norms.
Political Backdrop
The election is the first since the 2024 student-led protests that forced Hasina from office and led to her departure to India.
Following the unrest, the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus banned Awami League activities. The Election Commission subsequently suspended the party’s registration, preventing it from contesting the polls — a move that marked a significant shift in Bangladesh’s political landscape.
While the Awami League had previously boycotted elections as a political decision, this is the first time it has been barred through administrative action.
Hasina’s Demands
Hasina called for the annulment of the election, Yunus’s resignation, the withdrawal of cases filed against political leaders and supporters, and the release of detainees, including journalists and academics. She also demanded the restoration of her party’s activities and fresh elections under a neutral caretaker administration, asserting that citizens’ voting rights must be fully reinstated.
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