Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called for the cancellation of the country’s latest national election, describing it as a “sham election staged by the killer, fascist Muhammad Yunus.”
In a strongly worded statement issued after the polls, Hasina demanded the resignation of Yunus and fresh elections under a neutral caretaker administration.
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Hasina outlined a series of demands in her response to the election outcome.
She called for: “the cancellation of this voterless, illegal, and unconstitutional election; the resignation of Yunus; the withdrawal of false cases and the release of all political prisoners as well as teachers, journalists, intellectuals, and professionals; the removal of the suspension imposed on the activities of the Awami League; and the restoration of the people’s voting rights through the arrangement of a free, fair, and inclusive election under a neutral caretaker government.”
She also thanked “the masses at all levels, including mothers, sisters, and minority communities” for rejecting what she termed a fraudulent electoral exercise.
‘Carefully Planned Farce’
Criticising the conduct of the vote, Hasina said: “Today’s so-called election organised by Yunus, who took power through illegal and unconstitutional means, was essentially a carefully planned farce.”
She alleged that the election ignored “the people’s voting rights, democratic values, and the spirit of the constitution” and was conducted “without the Awami League and without voters.”
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According to Hasina, irregularities began on the evening of February 11.
She alleged incidents including the capture of polling centres, gunfire, vote-buying through money distribution, stamping of ballot papers, and obtaining agents’ signatures on result sheets.
Furthermore, she claimed that from the morning of February 12, turnout across most polling centres remained extremely low. In several locations in Dhaka and other regions, polling stations were reportedly “completely empty of voters.”
Turnout Figures Questioned
Citing the Election Commission’s briefing, Hasina said voter turnout stood at 14.96% by 11 am — three and a half hours after voting began.
“This low participation at the peak voting period proves that the public boycotted and rejected this election without the Awami League,” she said.
She also alleged that Awami League voters, supporters and minority communities faced “continuous attacks, arrests, intimidation, and an atmosphere of fear” aimed at forcing participation.
Despite these alleged pressures, she claimed, polling centres remained “effectively without voters.”
Questions Over Voter List
Hasina further raised concerns about the voter roll, stating: “the number of voters on the voter list, especially in Dhaka, has increased abnormally, which is highly questionable and unbelievable.”
Her statement adds to political tensions surrounding the legitimacy of the electoral process and governance structure in Bangladesh.
