Bangladesh Exile Leader Hasina Denounces Upcoming Elections After Party Ban

Bangladesh’s Former Premier Warns of Widespread Resentment Ahead of Upcoming Election

Sheikh Hasina, the ousted premier of Bangladesh, has issued a statement warning that the exclusion of her Awami League party from the upcoming election will deepen resentment among the population. The message, published by The Associated Press news agency, was released on Thursday and expresses concern over the potential for instability in the country.

Hasina, who is currently living in exile in India, stated that “a government born of exclusion cannot unite a divided nation.” She also claimed that her party was deliberately disenfranchised by the current government, which she believes will lead to further resentment and undermine institutions.

The upcoming election, scheduled for February 12, is expected to be one of the most consequential in decades. Over 127 million people are eligible to vote, and voters will also be weighing a proposed constitutional referendum on sweeping political reforms. Campaigning has begun, with rallies taking place in the capital, Dhaka, and elsewhere.

Muhammad Yunus’s government is overseeing the process, with international observers and human rights groups invited to monitor the election. However, concerns remain over security and the potential for coercion or violence. Tarique Rahman, the son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, has returned to Bangladesh as a strong candidate in the forthcoming election.

Hasina made her first public speech since her ouster on Friday, telling a packed press club in Delhi that she believes Bangladesh will not experience free and fair elections under Yunus’s watch. The statement was criticized by Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which expressed surprise and shock at Hasina’s ability to make a public address in India.

Source: Al Jazeera