Sham election by killer Yunus: Sheikh Hasina seeks cancellation of Bangladesh polls
Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has demanded the cancellation of the country’s latest national election, describing it as a “sham election staged by the killer, fascist Muhammad Yunus” and calling for his resignation.
In a statement issued in response to the polls, Hasina demanded “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.”
In her statement, Hasina thanked “the masses at all levels, including mothers, sisters, and minority communities” for rejecting what she termed a fraudulent exercise organised by Yunus, whom she accused of seizing power “illegally and unconstitutionally.”
“Today’s so-called election organised by Yunus, who took power through illegal and unconstitutional means, was essentially a carefully planned farce,” Hasina said. She alleged that the election disregarded “the people’s voting rights, democratic values, and the spirit of the constitution” and was arranged “without the Awami League and without voters.”
Hasina claimed that irregularities began on the evening of 11 February, alleging the capture of polling centres, gunfire, the widespread use of money to buy votes, stamping of ballot papers, and the taking of agents’ signatures on result sheets. She further alleged that from the morning of 12 February, voter turnout in most polling centres across the country remained extremely low, with many polling stations in the capital and other parts of the country “completely empty of voters.”
Citing the Election Commission’s briefing, she said voter turnout until 11 am, within three and a half hours of voting, stood at 14.96%. “This low participation at the peak voting period proves that the public boycotted and rejected this election without the Awami League,” she said.
Hasina also alleged that, in recent days, Awami League voters, supporters, well-wishers and minority communities faced “continuous attacks, arrests, intimidation, and an atmosphere of fear” in an attempt to forcibly take them to polling stations. Despite this, she said, they “boycotted and rejected this fraudulent election,” resulting in most polling centres being “effectively without voters.”
She further questioned the integrity of the voter list, claiming that “the number of voters on the voter list, especially in Dhaka, has increased abnormally, which is highly questionable and unbelievable.”
