Awami League on Thursday strongly condemned the 13th National Parliamentary Elections in Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina issued a statement calling it a well-planned farce by the interim government’s chief advisor Muhammad Yunus. Also, he demanded reinstatement of the party and release of political prisoners.
Let us tell you that the interim government has banned any political activity of Hasina’s party and has suspended its registration as a political party, after which Bangladesh Awami League has been barred from taking part in the national elections.
In a statement issued after the end of the elections, Awami League leader and former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina thanked citizens for rejecting a fraudulent election that was held without her party’s participation. He accused Yunus of usurping power through illegal and unconstitutional means and highlighted major irregularities like capturing of polling centres, firing, vote buying, stamping of ballots and signing of agents on result sheets.
“On behalf of the people’s leader Sheikh Hasina, I thank all citizens, including mothers, sisters and minority communities, for rejecting the farcical election of the murderous-fascist Yunus,” the statement said. The statement further said, “From the evening of 11 February, the farce began with capture of polling centres, firing, vote buying, distribution of money, stamping of ballots and agents signing result sheets. By the morning of 12 February, voter turnout was very low at most polling centers across the country, and many centers in the capital and other areas had no voters at all.”
Signal of clear rejection of elections
Citing Bangladesh Election Commission data, Hasina said that till 11 am (local time) there was only 14.96 percent voter turnout, which is a clear indication of rejection of the elections. He also expressed concern over the unusual increase in the number of voters, especially in Dhaka, calling it “highly suspicious”. “Furthermore, a strange increase in the number of voters in the voter list was observed, especially in Dhaka city, which raises serious questions and is highly suspicious,” the statement said.
Hasina further demanded that what she called “voterless, illegal and unconstitutional” elections be cancelled, Yunus’s resignation sought, all political prisoners including teachers, journalists and intellectuals be released and false cases withdrawn. He further called for the resumption of Awami League activities and holding of free, fair and inclusive elections under a neutral caretaker government, and stressed the need to restore democratic rights and constitutional order in Bangladesh.