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Bangladesh's erstwhile Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina alleged connected Friday (January 23, 2026) that elections adjacent period would not beryllium escaped oregon fair, successful her archetypal nationalist code since being sentenced to decease successful absentia for crimes against humanity.
Bangladesh, federation of 170 cardinal people, votes connected February 12 to take caller enactment aft prolonged governmental turmoil pursuing the overthrow of Hasina's autocratic government.
Ms. Hasina, 78, near Bangladesh successful August 2024 aft a student-led uprising ended her 15-year, iron-fisted rule, and has not been seen successful nationalist since.
Her code is apt to further aggravate ties betwixt New Delhi and Dhaka, which person soured since her ouster.
"Bangladesh stands contiguous astatine the borderline of an abyss, a federation battered and bleeding," Ms. Hasina said successful English during an audio connection broadcast to a packed property nine successful Delhi.
"Democracy is present successful exile," she said.
In November, Ms. Hasina was recovered blameworthy by a Dhaka tribunal of incitement, bid to termination and inaction to forestall atrocities, and sentenced to beryllium hanged.
The activities of her erstwhile ruling Awami League, erstwhile the country's astir popular, person been outlawed.
"Bangladesh indispensable support and reconstruct the constitution written successful the humor of martyrs, reclaim our independence, safeguard our sovereignty, and revive our democracy," Ms. Hasina said.
VIDEO | Delhi: Former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina's audio connection being played by panellists during interactive league organised by Foreign Correspondents' Club of South Asia.
She says, "The state is facing lawlessness, insecurity, and persecution of minorities, with mob… pic.twitter.com/ubkPbUGnhy
Muhammad Yunus, the 85-year-old Nobel Peace Prize victor who returned from exile successful 2024 astatine the behest of protesters to pb a caretaker government, volition measurement down aft the polls.
Mr. Yunus said the ballot volition "set the modular for bully elections", his bureau said successful a connection connected Friday (January 23, 2026).
Hasina connected Muhammad Yunus
But Ms. Hasina struck a defiant tone, attacking her longtime rival.
"Bangladesh volition ne'er acquisition escaped and just elections until the shadiness that Yunus casts is lifted from the radical of Bangladesh," she said.
Bangladeshi parties launched their authoritative campaigns connected Thursday.
Ms. Hasina's code was fixed astatine a sheet talk, "Bangladesh astatine the crossroads", which besides included cardinal figures of her erstwhile ruling Awami League, and erstwhile Ministers.
More than 100,000 radical watched the code broadcast online.
Some posted comments captious of Ms. Hasina.
Others, supporters of the Awami League, repeatedly wrote the slogan "no boat, nary vote" successful notation to the party's erstwhile predetermination symbol.
