New Delhi / Dhaka, Jan 30: From her self-imposed exile in India, Bangladesh’s former prime minister Sheikh Hasina has sharply criticised the upcoming February 12 national election, calling it exclusionary and warning that it could deepen political instability in the South Asian nation. The remarks come as the election draws closer and campaigning intensifies across the country.Hasina — who was removed from power following mass protests and unrest in 2024 and subsequently sentenced to death in absentia — sent an email statement to international media in which she accused the interim government of deliberately disenfranchising millions of her supporters by barring her party, the Awami League, from the polls. She maintained that an election without full political participation will only fuel resentment and weaken democratic institutions in Bangladesh.
“A government born of exclusion cannot unite a divided nation,” Hasina wrote, asserting that without inclusive and free and fair elections, Bangladesh risks prolonged instability. She urged political parties to end cycles of bans and boycotts and stressed the need for a legitimate government based on the genuine consent of the people.
The upcoming elections are widely viewed as the most consequential in decades for Bangladesh — the first since Hasina’s ouster and the collapse of her 15-year rule. More than 127 million voters are eligible to participate, and a constitutional referendum on sweeping reforms will also be held alongside the polls.
The interim government, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, has pledged that the election will be conducted freely and fairly, with international observers from the EU, Commonwealth and others expected to monitor the process. However, critics — including rights groups and political opponents — have expressed concerns about democratic standards and inclusivity, particularly after the exclusion of the Awami League.
Since her departure from Bangladesh in August 2024 amid violent unrest and a significant student-led uprising, Hasina has remained in India, where she has continued to issue statements denouncing the interim authorities and calling for political reforms.
Bangladesh’s foreign ministry previously expressed that it was “surprised” and “shocked” that Hasina was allowed to make public addresses from Indian territory, underscoring diplomatic tensions between Dhaka and New Delhi over the former leader’s presence and political activities.