Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has accused the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus of “disenfranchising millions” by banning the Awami League from contesting upcoming elections.
Speaking from exile in New Delhi, Hasina told international media that elections without her party “cannot be credible.” She warned that excluding the Awami League would “sow the seeds of future division” and deprive voters of meaningful choice. The interim government cited security concerns and ongoing war-crimes investigations for the ban.
Hasina said she is not urging supporters to back other parties but hopes “common sense will prevail” and her party will be reinstated. Her critics note that she herself barred opposition groups from contesting previous elections. The Yunus administration maintains that inclusive polls will follow once stability is restored, but no timeline has been announced.