Dhaka, Feb 12 (NationPress) Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, has described the 13th Parliamentary election that took place on Thursday as “farcical”. She expressed her gratitude to the populace, particularly women and minority communities, for rejecting this election.

Hasina condemned the “so-called” election conducted by the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, stating that the regime seized power “illegally and unconstitutionally” and executed a “well-planned farce”. She emphasized that the people’s voting rights, principles of democracy, and the essence of the Constitution were utterly ignored in this “deceptive, voterless election” that occurred without the participation of the Awami League party.

“From the evening of 11 February, this farce commenced with the takeover of polling centers, gunfire, vote-buying, distribution of cash, ballot stamping, and agents signing result sheets. By the morning of 12 February, voter turnout was minimal at most polling stations across the nation, with numerous centers in the capital and other locations reporting no voters at all,” Hasina's statement, published on the Awami League's X social media platform, stated.

“According to the Election Commission’s briefing, by 11 am—merely three and a half hours into the voting—only 14.96 percent of eligible voters had participated. This exceedingly low turnout clearly indicates that the election devoid of the Awami League was broadly dismissed by the public,” she continued.

Hasina pointed out that leading up to the elections, there were ongoing attacks, arrests, intimidation, and fear tactics directed at Awami League voters, supporters, well-wishers, and minority communities, compelling them towards polling centers.

“Despite these threats and harassment, the public rejected this fraudulent election, leaving most polling centers effectively empty. Furthermore, abnormal increases in voter numbers were noted in voter lists, particularly in Dhaka city, raising serious questions and suspicions,” Hasina remarked.

The Awami League demanded the annulment of this “voter-less, illegal, and unconstitutional” election, the resignation of the “murderous-fascist Yunus”, and the release of all political prisoners, including teachers, journalists, and intellectuals, along with the withdrawal of all fabricated cases. They also called for the lifting of the suspension on Awami League activities and for free, fair, and inclusive elections to be held under a neutral caretaker government to restore the populace’s voting rights.