Awami League leader and former Information Minister Mohammad Ali Arafat has intensified criticism of the upcoming February 12 national election, sharing two videos on social media that he says demonstrate widespread voter disillusionment and coercion against minorities in the absence of his party.
In a post on X on January 12, Arafat accused certain quarters of “shamelessly changing the definition of an inclusive election” by insisting polls can be deemed free and fair based solely on turnout, even without participation from major parties like the Awami League, which remains banned under the interim government.
Arafat described the clips as “only a small sample of thousands of similar opinions” from citizens facing exclusion:
– Video 1: A Hindu minority woman alleges she and her community are being threatened by activists of Jamaat-e-Islami, the Islamist party whose student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibi,r has gained visibility since the 2024 transition, to vote for their candidates against their will.
– Video 2: A female voter questions why no ballot symbol represents the Awami League—the party she supports—implying she sees no reason to participate without her preferred option.
The former minister argued that excluding a major party inevitably disenfranchises large numbers of supporters, echoing Sheikh Hasina’s earlier warnings of potential mass boycotts. He posed a rhetorical question: “Wasn’t the secure environment of the fifteen and a half years of Awami League rule better for the Hindu community and for general voters, when no major party was banned and every voter was free to vote for whomever they wanted?”
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Arafat tagged a wide array of international diplomats, officials, and analysts—including representatives from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@ESandersFCDO), EU Ambassador to Bangladesh (@EUAmbBangladesh), US State Department officials (@StateDRL, @DRL_AS), UK MP Bob Blackman (@BobBlackman), and scholars like Michael Kugelman (@MichaelKugelman)—apparently seeking global attention to what he frames as threats to democratic legitimacy and minority safety.
The post comes amid heightened international scrutiny of the February election. A recent joint statement by UK MPs Bob Blackman, Jim Shannon, Jas Athwal, and Chris Law (dated early January 2026) warned that polls without all major parties cannot be considered democratic, urging the Yunus administration to lift restrictions on political participation and international observers. The MPs also cited “credible reports” of politically motivated detentions and arbitrary arrests.
The interim government maintains that the Awami League ban stems from national security concerns, ongoing trials at the International Crimes Tribunal (including death sentences against Sheikh Hasina and others), and allegations of past abuses. Officials have repeatedly stated the February vote will proceed as planned, emphasising broad participation from other parties.
However, opposition voices and some analysts argue the exclusion risks low turnout, legitimacy questions, and further polarisation—particularly in minority communities. Reports of localised pressures on Hindu voters have surfaced sporadically since mid-2024, though independent verification remains limited amid the politically charged atmosphere.
With nominations already underway and the election less than a month away, Arafat’s intervention—backed by video evidence—adds fresh fuel to the debate over inclusivity, minority protection, and the credibility of Bangladesh’s first post-transition national vote. Whether the interim administration addresses these concerns or proceeds as is could shape both domestic turnout and international perceptions of the 2026 polls.
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