Highlights
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Sheikh Hasina says millions of Awami League supporters will boycott Bangladesh’s upcoming election.
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The ousted Prime Minister vows to stay in exile in India until her party is reinstated.
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Hasina rejects any government formed without Awami League participation.
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She hopes her party will be allowed to contest in future elections.
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Awami League’s registration was suspended amid war crimes probes.
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Hasina faces trial for alleged crimes against humanity during 2024 protests.
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She denies all charges and calls them politically motivated.
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Hasina says Bangladesh needs a return to constitutional rule and stability.
Hasina Says Mass Voters Will Boycott Bangladesh Election
Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, now living in exile in India, has said that millions of supporters of the Awami League will boycott Bangladesh’s national election next year after her party was barred from participating.
Speaking to Reuters in her first media engagement since her dramatic fall from power, Hasina, 78, stated that she will remain in India and will not return to Bangladesh under any government formed without her party’s participation.
“The ban on the Awami League is not only unjust, it is self-defeating,” Hasina said in her emailed responses. “You cannot disenfranchise millions of people if you want a political system that works.”
Awami League Barred from Elections
The Awami League’s registration was suspended by Bangladesh’s Election Commission in May 2025, following an earlier decision by the interim government, led by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, to ban all political activities. The government cited national security concerns and ongoing war crimes investigations into senior party figures.
Bangladesh has over 126 million registered voters, and with the Awami League excluded, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is expected to win the upcoming polls scheduled for February 2026.
Hasina insisted that her party’s supporters will not back any other political groups.
“We still hope common sense will prevail and we will be allowed to contest the election ourselves,” she said.
Ex-Prime Minister Under Trial for Human Rights Violations
Following her ouster in August 2024, Sheikh Hasina has faced charges of crimes against humanity linked to a violent crackdown on student protests. The International Crimes Tribunal concluded proceedings earlier this month, with a verdict expected on November 13, 2025.
A United Nations report estimated that up to 1,400 people were killed during the unrest between July 15 and August 5, 2024, marking one of Bangladesh’s deadliest episodes since the 1971 war of independence. Thousands more were injured, mostly from gunfire by security forces.
Read More: Chief Adviser Warns Powerful and Big Forces Will Attempt to Sabotage the Election
Hasina has denied all allegations, calling the trial politically motivated:
“These proceedings are a politically motivated charade,” she said. “They’ve been brought by kangaroo courts with guilty verdicts already decided.”
Living in Exile in India
After fleeing to New Delhi in August 2024, Hasina has lived a quiet life in exile. She told Reuters that she enjoys relative freedom but remains cautious due to her family’s tragic past — her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and three brothers were assassinated in a 1975 military coup.
Eyewitnesses in Delhi recently saw her walking through Lodhi Garden, accompanied by two personal security guards.
“I would love to go home,” she said, “so long as the government there was legitimate and the constitution was being upheld.”
Despite her exile, Hasina believes the Awami League will eventually return to Bangladesh’s political arena. She said her family does not need to lead the party in the future, emphasizing that national progress should not depend on individuals.
Her son, Sajeeb Wazed, based in Washington, previously said he might consider leading the party if asked, though Hasina downplayed the idea:
“It’s really not about me or my family,” she stated. “Bangladesh’s future depends on restoring constitutional rule and stability.”
Political Situation in Bangladesh
Since Hasina’s departure, the interim administration led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus has focused on stabilizing the country and preparing for elections. While initial weeks saw violence against Awami League supporters, the streets have remained mostly calm.
However, clashes erupted earlier this month during the signing of a new charter for state reform, revealing underlying tensions. Hasina’s boycott call could significantly affect voter turnout, raising questions about the legitimacy of the upcoming election and the long-term stability of Bangladesh’s democracy.
“নিজের ব্যবসার জন্য এখন নিজের ওয়েবসাইট — মাত্র কয়েক মিনিটে Storola দিয়ে!”
Sheikh Hasina’s announcement marks a new chapter in Bangladesh’s turbulent political history. Her refusal to recognize any government formed without the Awami League and her decision to remain in exile underline deep divisions within the country’s political structure.
While Hasina faces serious legal and political challenges, her influence remains strong among millions of supporters. The coming months specially the verdict in her war crimes case and the national election will determine not only Hasina’s future but also the direction of Bangladesh’s democracy.
