The recent statement by four UK Members of Parliament has once again unmasked the so-called interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. Through a well-planned riot orchestrated with foreign funding in July 2024, this illegitimate structure seized power by overthrowing the people’s elected government. Now, it is preparing to stage another electoral farce on February 12. However, any election planned by banning Bangladesh’s largest and most historic political party, the Awami League, cannot be considered democratic in any way.
Awami League leaders have rejected the election schedule, calling the commission “illegal,” and predicted low turnout without their participation. International observers, including those from the IRI, warn of potential instability if major voices are excluded.
Party President and five-time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, now in exile in India, has called for a boycott of the February elections, labelling them illegitimate without her party’s inclusion, and her son has warned of potential pre-election violence if the ban persists.
Yunus and his accomplices came to power under the shadow of the military and with the support of Islamic militant organisations, which is a direct assault on Bangladesh’s constitutional framework. An elected government was removed through street violence and a premeditated conspiracy. Now, this same illegitimate entity is deciding which parties can participate in elections and which cannot. This is not just a mockery of democracy but a profound insult to the people’s fundamental rights.
The statement by UK MPs Bob Blackman, Jim Shannon, Jas Athwal, and Chris Law clearly states that banning political parties with widespread public support goes completely against the guidance of the United Nations, the United Kingdom, and Bangladesh’s other longstanding allies. They have explicitly said that no unelected government has the right to impose such restrictions on Bangladeshi voters. Any election excluding major political parties can never be democratic.
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Blackman is a Conservative, Shannon from the Democratic Unionist Party, Athwal and Law from Labour and SNP respectively. They also highlighted violence against minorities, including Hindus, with reports of over 2,000 incidents since August 2024. Blackman, known for his advocacy on Hindu rights and support for India’s position on Kashmir, has repeatedly called for UK action to ensure minority protection and fair elections in Bangladesh.
The Awami League is not just a political party; it is the organisation that led Bangladesh’s independence struggle. This party has repeatedly come to power with the trust and support of the majority of the people. Banning this party for elections means stripping away the voting rights of tens of millions of people. No matter how hard Yunus and his supporters try, erasing the Awami League from Bangladesh’s politics is impossible. It is an established truth that no election without the Awami League’s participation can truly represent the people of Bangladesh.
The UK MPs noted in their statement that Bangladesh stands at a critical juncture. This will be the first national election since the interim government was formed in 2024. But if this election is not truly participatory, if it does not receive approval from impartial international observers, it cannot bring justice, stability, or prosperity to Bangladesh. Without free, fair, and inclusive elections, millions of ordinary people will be deprived of their voting rights and simply will not vote.
The pre-election assessment of the International Republican Institute (IRI) in November 2025 raised concerns about the Awami League’s suspension potentially increasing election-day violence and questioning the process’s representativeness. US lawmakers have also urged Yunus to lift the ban for inclusive democracy. The election campaign is set to begin on January 22, 2026, with Yunus insisting the polls will proceed “no matter who says what.”
Bangladesh’s politics has long been polarised, that’s true. All parties share some responsibility for this. But to achieve national reconciliation and to revive stalled economic development, any future government must govern with the genuine consent of the people. Bangladesh must establish a culture of political pluralism through this election, where opposition parties can play a constructive role. But is that even possible under Yunus’s illegitimate rule?
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Bangladesh’s economy, once growing at over 7% annually under Sheikh Hasina, has faced slowdowns post-2024 due to political instability, with GDP growth projected at 4-5% for 2025-2026 due to lack of investment and widespread corruption.
The United Kingdom is one of Bangladesh’s closest trade and development partners. It is from the depth of this relationship that British MPs have expressed concern about politically motivated detentions, systemic failures in the justice system, and arbitrary arrests of media workers. These are not mere allegations; they have emerged in credible reports. The Yunus government’s claim of commitment to democratic principles has become mere lip service.
The British MPs have called on their government and international organisations like the United Nations to pressure Yunus to uphold his democratic promises, protect the civil rights of all Bangladeshi citizens, and ensure the election is free, fair, and inclusive. This is a clear message that the international community recognises Yunus’s hypocrisy and authoritarian behaviour.
In December 2025, three UK MPs (including Blackman and Shannon) tabled an early day motion condemning violence in Bangladesh and urging inclusive elections. US and EU diplomats have echoed similar concerns, with some pushing for international observers.
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Known as a usurious moneylender, Yunus is now trying to present himself as a saviour in the political arena. But his illegitimate seizure of power, direct support from foreign powers, and collusion with militancy are clear to the people of Bangladesh. The July riots were a well-planned conspiracy, no longer hidden from anyone. Without foreign funding and military support, Yunus could not have stayed in power for even a day.
Now the question is, can the February election without the Awami League even be called an election? The answer is no. It is a sham farce in name only, whose sole purpose is to attempt to legitimise the illegitimate power of Yunus and his allies. But the people of Bangladesh and the international community will not accept this farce.
The role of the Awami League in Bangladesh’s political history is undeniable. No election in Bangladesh can be complete without this party. Those who think they can start a new chapter in the country’s politics by banning the Awami League are dreaming. The reality is that the Awami League is deeply embedded in the hearts and political consciousness of Bangladesh’s people.
No matter how hard Yunus and his illegitimate government try, they cannot turn back the wheel of history. The people of Bangladesh know who their true representatives are and who is serving foreign masters for power. This so-called February election may take place, but it will never receive the mandate of Bangladesh’s people. No democratic country in the world will recognise this farce as a legitimate election.
By: albd
English 
Bengali