Author: Farid Hossain

The last time Bangladesh held its freest, fairest, and inclusive national elections was in December 2008, when ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League party won a decisive victory. Since then, the South Asian nation, known for its political turmoil, has witnessed three more parliamentary elections – all swept by Hasina’s party – amid boycott by main opposition parties and allegations of widespread vote fraud. Hasina’s sham victory in the last polls in January 2024, which deprived millions of young, newly enrolled voters of their first chance to choose their representatives, had largely contributed to alienating her from the people.…