Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Warns of Election Boycott
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has declared that millions of her party’s supporters will not participate in next year’s elections, following a ban on her party from voting, according to a Reuters report.
Hasina, now in exile in New Delhi, described the ban on the Awami League as not just unfair but also counterproductive. This statement marks her first media engagement since her departure after a 15-year leadership in Bangladesh.
The 78-year-old Hasina expressed no desire to return to Bangladesh as long as her party is barred from the electoral process. She has been residing in India since fleeing violent riots led by students in August 2024. Currently, the interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, is expected to hold elections in February following Hasina’s resignation.
During her message, Hasina emphasized the need for the next government to have electoral legitimacy, asserting that millions support the Awami League and would refuse to vote if their exclusion continues. She stated, “You can’t disenfranchise millions of people if you want a functioning political system.”
The Election Commission had blocked the Awami League from registering back in May after the Yunus-led administration prohibited all party activities, justifying it by citing national security concerns and ongoing war crimes investigations against its leaders.
With over 126 million registered voters in Bangladesh, both the Awami League and its rival, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, have had strong political presences. Reports suggest that the BNP is likely to succeed in the upcoming elections.
Hasina clarified that she is not urging Awami League voters to switch support to other parties. She remains hopeful for a resolution that will allow her party to partake in the elections.
There’s no indication from Hasina about any ongoing negotiations with Bangladeshi authorities regarding her party’s participation in the voting process.
She is the daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh’s first leader after gaining independence. In 1975, while living in Germany, her parents were assassinated during a military coup. Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana managed to flee Dhaka by helicopter during the unrest.
After several years of exile in India, Hasina returned to Bangladesh, overcame a lengthy power struggle, and won her first term as prime minister in 1996, serving until 2001. Her recent tenure, spanning 15 years, marked her second time in office.
Political tensions in Bangladesh have deepened since the country’s independence in 1971, with frequent imprisonments of rival leaders and attempts to legitimize authoritarian practices. While supporters highlight her efforts in improving infrastructure and educational opportunities for women, critics accuse her of authoritarianism, suppressing dissent, and manipulating electoral outcomes. Some view her troubled past as fueling a justified suspicion of coups, while others scrutinize her for potentially leveraging her history for political advantage.
