Sheikh Hasina's son calls Bangladesh election 'complete sham', urges boycott

Ahead of polling for the 13th parliamentary elections on Thursday, Sajeeb Wazed, son of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, alleged that the Bangladesh elections are "completely sham", designed to legitimise a predetermined outcome while sidelining key political forces.

In an exclusive interview with India Today, Wazed said Sheikh Hasina is "very disappointed" and deeply worried about the country's future.

Wazed, who has lived in Washington for nearly three decades, said the polls are being held without the participation of the Awami League, Bangladesh's oldest and largest political party.

"These are completely a sham election," he said. "They've officially banned the Awami League, which led the independence movement. Historically, Awami League has always won 30 to 40 percent of the vote. How can you call this an election if the largest party cannot participate?"

Hasina's Awami League has been barred from the election. For the first time in over 15 years, the Awami League (AL) is absent from the electoral battlefield.

He went further, alleging that the restrictions extend beyond his mother's party. "It's not just the Awami League. All progressive parties have effectively been blocked. Many leaders are behind bars. Offices have been burnt. They're not allowed to campaign or hold public meetings. This is just a rubber stamp election."

ALLEGATIONS OF ISLAMIST RISE

Wazed stated that the current political arrangement is aimed at strengthening Islamist forces, particularly Jamaat-e-Islami.

"This is an attempt to bring Jamaat to power. And if that's not possible, then at least to make them the second largest party with outsized influence," he said. "That is the entire goal here."

He alleged that since the change in leadership in Dhaka, convicted extremists have been released and radical groups have been allowed to operate more freely.

"Terrorists have a free reign in Bangladesh now," he claimed. "Nothing is going to change with Jamaat being in government."

Wazed also warned that the consequences could extend beyond Bangladesh. "Eventually, terror is going to start being exported from Bangladesh," he said. "The most likely first target would be India."

WE NEED SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRACY: SAJEEB WAZED

Referring to discussions held on Capitol Hill earlier this week, where some US lawmakers raised concerns about the conduct of the elections, Wazed said international attention is critical.

"We don't need support for the Awami League. We need support for legitimacy. We need support for democracy," he said. "At some point, as Islamists exert more influence, the West will be alarmed."

He argued that only international pressure, including possible sanctions, could restore democratic balance. "It's not going to happen on its own," he said. "Unless international countries recognise that these elections are a sham and speak out against them, this situation will continue."

Asked about Sheikh Hasina's reaction, Wazed said he had spoken to her about the vote.

"She's very disappointed," he said. "She was hoping for a truly free and fair election. We don't have anything close to that."

He said her biggest concern is the rise of extremist forces. "Her main concern is the rise of terror. Our government was strict on terrorism. We cracked down and stopped terrorist activity. That is now at risk."

SAJEEB WAZED APPEALS FOR BOYCOTT

Wazed urged voters, especially young people, to boycott the polls.

"There's no point in voting. The outcome of these elections is completely predetermined," he said. "If you boycott, that is the only way to show that you reject this process."

He also alleged large-scale rigging, claiming that postal ballots were introduced to make manipulation easier and that videos had surfaced showing ballots being stamped before polling day. "The election commission has already announced they expect turnout to be 55 percent. That clearly is their target," he said. "It's a massive rigging campaign."

Bangladesh will vote on Tuesday in its first national election since Sheikh Hasina’s ouster in August 2024.

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