Awami League President and five-time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has strongly called on supporters to boycott the upcoming February 12 national elections, declaring that without her party’s participation—and its iconic “boat” symbol on the ballot—there is no reason for loyal voters to participate.
Speaking at a virtual meeting, Sheikh Hasina emphasised that the interim government under Muhammad Yunus has barred her party from contesting, rendering the polls illegitimate. “Since there is no boat on the ballot, there will be no vote either,” she stated. “No leader or worker of the Awami League will vote. Where will we vote?”
She dismissed attempts at persuasion by others, warning her party members: “Yes, now many will come to us, many will speak sweet words, many will try to lure us, and many things will be done. But we must keep this in mind: on that ballot, we cannot vote, or the Awami League will not vote.”
She drew a sharp contrast with the opposition’s past actions, asserting that, unlike the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which has boycotted elections, the Awami League has always sought to participate.
“We do not boycott elections; we want to hold elections. But they will not let us do it. The difference is there; the distinction is there. The BNP has boycotted; we do not boycott. We want to join the elections. They will not let us join the elections out of fear that we will win.
“So, let them hold the election; we will see how long it lasts. One swallow does not make a summer. Therefore, it must be kept in mind. The day will return. The days of those oppressors do not last long.”
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Sheikh Hasina questioned the nature of the current electoral process, highlighting hypocrisy in criticisms of past Awami League-led polls. “Now they have given an election. What kind of election is this? They raise questions about elections during the Awami League era. Where? We did not ban any party. They will not be able to hold elections. Did we ban the BNP? We did not ban them. The BNP itself did not participate in the election. Why didn’t they? This is very clear.”
She cited the 2008 election as unimpeachable evidence of her party’s popularity: “The 2008 election—no one can question that election. What was the result of that election? The Awami League alone got 48% of the votes. We contested 259 seats and gave the remaining seats to allied parties. Contesting 259 seats with the boat symbol, we won 233 seats.
“And the BNP, along with Jamaat, formed a 20-party alliance, contested 300 seats, got 32% of the votes, and won 30 seats. After that result, the BNP no longer wanted to participate in elections.”
Recalling her personal outreach in 2014, she said: “In 2014, I myself proposed to Khaleda Zia. Take all the elected representatives in Parliament, form an election-time government, and come, we will hold elections. Whatever ministry you want, we will give. I personally called her: Come, have a cup of tea; let’s discuss how to hold a fair election. We never wanted to hold elections unilaterally or ban any party outright to win alone. Now, if someone does not come to the election, what can we do?”
On the 2018 election, she accused opponents of self-sabotage and international smear campaigns: “In 2018, they came to the election, took money for nominations, two to three nominations per seat, fought among themselves, cut each other, and immediately withdrew. Then this Dr. Yunus and the BNP, Jamaat-BNP together deliberately questioned this election worldwide. But they could not show even one irregularity.”
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Sheikh Hasina rejected claims of fraud in the 2024 election, which her party won: “In the 2024 election, they will not participate. We tried to bring them; they did not, they boycotted. The Awami League held the election and came out. Those who question this election have not been able to show till today that even one irregularity happened in this election, or murder in any polling center, or fighting anywhere. They cannot show anything. But there are allegations, and there is insured money; there is money. With that money, they are spreading propaganda worldwide.”
She attributed the ban on her party to fear of its enduring popularity: “But today’s election—why has the Awami League been banned? Why can’t the Awami League participate in the election? Why won’t our boat be there? The reason is very clear. They know, no matter how much slander against me, no matter how many death sentences they give me, if the Awami League participates in the election, the people will vote for the Awami League. Because they want the Awami League.”
Listing her government’s achievements, Sheikh Hasina said: “Because the Awami League suppressed terrorism and ensured the security of people’s lives. The Awami League improved the socio-economic condition of the people and increased their per capita income. They lived happily, eating and studying in peace. The Awami League improved roads, bridges, everything, making communication easier for people. The Awami League, while in power, built Digital Bangladesh for our youth society. Up to the union level, any boy or girl could work abroad, sitting at home—they provided that opportunity. We were building a modern, technology-knowledgeable young society.”
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She highlighted initiatives for youth: “Startup programs for youth employment, separate funds for them, their training—we provided computer training and incubation centers, hi-tech parks, various technologies, the Bangabandhu satellite launch—we did those to improve quality of life. We trained freelancers, learning and earning, in language education. We removed our unemployment problem. It was only 3%. Anyone could do some work themselves and become an entrepreneur themselves.”
Contrastingly, she lambasted the current economic state: “Today, the economy is completely destroyed. Lakhs of crores of taka were sent abroad in the share market. All markets are happening, and all bank money is looted and eaten. Now, if money goes to the bank, they cannot give money. Even businessmen do not get it, not even their running capital. One after another, everything is closing. In this way, someone has taken a country in hand and destroyed it—there is not even that much patriotism in them.”
Sheikh Hasina expressed solidarity with persecuted party members: “Yes, we are suffering. Our leaders and workers have no home, no house, cannot stay at home or meet family, and cannot receive treatment. On top of that, the torture-oppression on them, the way they are being beaten—whoever is doing it, all names must be listed. And against me, there are over 400 cases. Murder—I committed murder. On top of that, they have given a death sentence. Now what is there to fear? We have already received the punishment.”
In her closing directive, Bangabandhu’s daughter added: “And tell everyone about that election, to the people, that you do not need to go to the polling centers for voting. They will declare the vote themselves. Then we will see what happens to their election. After that, who forms the government and how it runs, we will see. The people must remain firm in this matter.”
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