'Deception and farce': Sheikh Hasina rejects Bangladesh poll results, calls it 'disgraceful chapter'
Times of India
by TOI WORLD DESKFebruary 13, 2026
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Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has strongly condemned the February 12 general elections as a "pre-planned election of deception and farce," calling it a "disgraceful chapter" in the country's democratic history. Speaking from exile in New Delhi, where she has lived since her ouster in August 2024 due to security concerns, Hasina accused the polls of being an undemocratic exercise that did not reflect the will of the people. Her remarks come as her party, the Awami League, boycotted the elections entirely.
Hasina questioned the legitimacy of the election process, pointing out inconsistencies in voter turnout figures provided by the Election Commission. She highlighted that within the first three hours of voting, 14.96% of registered voters had cast their ballots, a figure she described as unrealistic and indicative of manipulation. The BNP, led by Tarique Rahman following the death of party supremo Khaleda Zia before the elections, won a commanding majority, securing two-thirds of the total seats in parliament.
The BNP's sweeping victory has sparked renewed demands for Hasina's extradition from India to face trial in Bangladesh. Senior BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed stated that the incoming government would take steps to bring her back. This development raises diplomatic tensions between Bangladesh and India, as New Delhi faces pressure to resolve the complex legal and political challenge of extraditing a former head of state. Hasina's rejection of the election results underscores deeper concerns about the integrity of democratic processes in Bangladesh and highlights the ongoing power struggle between competing political factions.
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Originally published on Times of India on 2/13/2026