The ousted former prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, has issued a strong warning regarding the country’s upcoming 2026 national elections, stating that millions of her party’s supporters would boycott the polls if the Awami League (AL) is not allowed to contest.
In her first direct media interaction since her dramatic departure from power, the 78-year-old leader, who is currently living in New Delhi, spoke to Reuters about her party’s future, the upcoming election, and the serious charges she faces.
The Threat of Mass Boycott
The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has pledged to hold national elections in February 2027 (though other sources suggest a 2026 date) and has taken steps to ban the Awami League’s political activities. The country’s Election Commission formally suspended the AL’s registration in May of this year.
Sheikh Hasina called the ban “unjust” and “self-defeating.”
“Millions of people support the Awami League, so as things stand, they will not vote. You cannot disenfranchise millions of people if you want a political system that works,” Hasina stated. She emphasized that Dhaka’s next government must possess electoral legitimacy.
She confirmed that the party is not asking its voters to support other parties and still hopes that common sense will prevail, allowing the AL to contest. However, she did not disclose any back-channel discussions with the Bangladeshi authorities.
Charges of Crimes Against Humanity
Hasina’s comments come while she faces severe legal challenges in Bangladesh. The country’s domestic war crimes court, the International Crimes Tribunal, has concluded proceedings against her on charges of crimes against humanity. These charges stem from the violent crackdown on the student-led protests that ultimately led to her ouster in August 2024.
- Protests: The student-led protests, initially against a civil service quota system, escalated into widespread violence. A United Nations report estimates that up to 1,400 people may have been killed between July 15 and August 5, 2024, mostly by security forces’ gunfire.
- Allegations: Prosecutors allege that Hasina oversaw enforced disappearances and torture of opposition activists.
- Defense: Hasina denied the charges, claiming she was not personally involved in the use of lethal force. She dismissed the proceedings as a “politically motivated charade” brought by “kangaroo courts” where a guilty verdict is a “foregone conclusion,” citing a denial of meaningful opportunity to defend herself.
- Verdict: A verdict on her case is currently expected on November 13.
Living in Exile and Plans for Return
After 15 consecutive years at the center of Bangladeshi politics, the 78-year-old former Prime Minister has been living “freely” in New Delhi since fleeing Dhaka last August. She expressed a desire to return home but only under certain conditions:
“I would of course love to go home, so long as the government there was legitimate, the constitution was being upheld, and law and order genuinely prevailed.”
Reflecting on her party’s future, Hasina stated that the Awami League would eventually return to play a role in Bangladesh’s political future, emphasizing: “No single person or family defines our country’s future.” Her son and advisor, Sajeeb Wazed, has previously stated he might consider leading the party if asked.