Wednesday, 05 November, 2025
The Awami League, barred from political activity and unable to contest the next general election, has appealed to the United Nations to suspend its support for Bangladesh’s polls.
On Saturday, the party sent a letter to Stefan Liller, UNDP representative in Dhaka, through former education minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury Nowfel.
The letter urged the UN and UNDP to halt electoral assistance until an environment conducive to free and inclusive elections is restored. It called on the agencies to facilitate national dialogue and consensus among all political parties, ensuring that human rights and the rule of law underpin any electoral involvement.
Titled “Concerns Regarding UNDP Electoral Assistance to Bangladesh and Violations of UN Charter Principles of Impartiality, Political Inclusivity, and Fundamental Rights”, the letter expressed deep concern over UNDP’s support for the February elections, including its ballot project and institutional assistance, stressing that the upcoming vote is “neither inclusive nor credible”.
“Such involvement risks breaching international law, UN principles, and the UNDP’s own mandate to promote free, fair, and participatory elections,” the letter warned.
The Awami League emphasised that its appeal comes amid criticism that it governed Bangladesh for over 15 years through three controversial polls. After winning a landslide in the 2008 elections under a caretaker government, the party amended the Constitution in 2011 to abolish the caretaker system.
It then oversaw the 2014, 2018, and 2024 10th, 11th, and 12th parliamentary elections. The BNP boycotted the 10th and 12th elections, citing the absence of a nonpartisan government, allowing Awami League candidates to secure 153 of 300 seats uncontested in 2014 — what the BNP described as a “parliament without votes”.
In the 2018 election, the Jatiyo Oikya Front and some opposition parties participated but alleged widespread rigging, including votes reportedly cast the night before polling, leaving the opposition victorious in only seven constituencies. The election was dubbed the “Midnight Election”.
In the January 2024 election, boycotted by the BNP and similar groups, the Awami League reportedly ceded some seats to the Jatiya Party to simulate competitiveness. Most contests were between ruling party candidates and party rebels, earning the election the nickname “Me or Dummy Election”.
The Awami League won all three elections, governing for over 15 years until its ouster on 5 August 2024, during a student-led mass uprising.
In December last year, the High Court partially annulled the 15th constitutional amendment, reopening the possibility of a caretaker system. The court observed that the three elections held under the Awami League had “destroyed public confidence” due to the failure to ensure free and fair conditions.
In June, the BNP filed a case challenging these elections, naming all responsible Election Commission officials alongside the ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
In its letter to the UN, the Awami League acknowledged the importance of strong electoral institutions but stressed that support must be contingent on inclusivity and respect for fundamental freedoms. It described Bangladesh’s political climate as “repressive”, with thousands of political leaders, journalists, businesspeople, professionals, and citizens detained or threatened, and opportunities for dialogue blocked.
The party also warned of growing religion-based extremism, allegedly promoted by members of the interim government, which it said undermined liberal values and national stability.
The letter urged UNDP to reassess its electoral role to ensure that its support does not marginalise or persecute any group. It called for genuine dialogue, consensus, and the restoration of democratic rights, including the release of political prisoners and full participation of all political parties, as prerequisites for credible elections.
Previously in Dhaka, the UN’s outgoing resident coordinator, Gwenn Lewis, said elections could be inclusive even without the Awami League if genuine public participation occurs. He defined inclusivity as enabling all segments of society — women, young voters, ethnic minorities, and diverse religious communities — to vote with fair access and meaningful participation.
On the Awami League’s ban, Lewis clarified that the UN does not take a political stance, emphasising that governments and parties must be questioned directly on such issues.
Bangladesh UNDP representative Liller and a UNDP spokesperson were contacted for comment on the Awami League’s letter but had not responded as of Tuesday.
Comments
The Awami League, barred from political activity and unable to contest the next general election, has appealed to the United Nations to suspend its support for Bangladesh’s polls.
On Saturday, the party sent a letter to Stefan Liller, UNDP representative in Dhaka, through former education minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury Nowfel.
The letter urged the UN and UNDP to halt electoral assistance until an environment conducive to free and inclusive elections is restored. It called on the agencies to facilitate national dialogue and consensus among all political parties, ensuring that human rights and the rule of law underpin any electoral involvement.
Titled “Concerns Regarding UNDP Electoral Assistance to Bangladesh and Violations of UN Charter Principles of Impartiality, Political Inclusivity, and Fundamental Rights”, the letter expressed deep concern over UNDP’s support for the February elections, including its ballot project and institutional assistance, stressing that the upcoming vote is “neither inclusive nor credible”.
“Such involvement risks breaching international law, UN principles, and the UNDP’s own mandate to promote free, fair, and participatory elections,” the letter warned.
The Awami League emphasised that its appeal comes amid criticism that it governed Bangladesh for over 15 years through three controversial polls. After winning a landslide in the 2008 elections under a caretaker government, the party amended the Constitution in 2011 to abolish the caretaker system.
It then oversaw the 2014, 2018, and 2024 10th, 11th, and 12th parliamentary elections. The BNP boycotted the 10th and 12th elections, citing the absence of a nonpartisan government, allowing Awami League candidates to secure 153 of 300 seats uncontested in 2014 — what the BNP described as a “parliament without votes”.
In the 2018 election, the Jatiyo Oikya Front and some opposition parties participated but alleged widespread rigging, including votes reportedly cast the night before polling, leaving the opposition victorious in only seven constituencies. The election was dubbed the “Midnight Election”.
In the January 2024 election, boycotted by the BNP and similar groups, the Awami League reportedly ceded some seats to the Jatiya Party to simulate competitiveness. Most contests were between ruling party candidates and party rebels, earning the election the nickname “Me or Dummy Election”.
The Awami League won all three elections, governing for over 15 years until its ouster on 5 August 2024, during a student-led mass uprising.
In December last year, the High Court partially annulled the 15th constitutional amendment, reopening the possibility of a caretaker system. The court observed that the three elections held under the Awami League had “destroyed public confidence” due to the failure to ensure free and fair conditions.
In June, the BNP filed a case challenging these elections, naming all responsible Election Commission officials alongside the ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
In its letter to the UN, the Awami League acknowledged the importance of strong electoral institutions but stressed that support must be contingent on inclusivity and respect for fundamental freedoms. It described Bangladesh’s political climate as “repressive”, with thousands of political leaders, journalists, businesspeople, professionals, and citizens detained or threatened, and opportunities for dialogue blocked.
The party also warned of growing religion-based extremism, allegedly promoted by members of the interim government, which it said undermined liberal values and national stability.
The letter urged UNDP to reassess its electoral role to ensure that its support does not marginalise or persecute any group. It called for genuine dialogue, consensus, and the restoration of democratic rights, including the release of political prisoners and full participation of all political parties, as prerequisites for credible elections.
Previously in Dhaka, the UN’s outgoing resident coordinator, Gwenn Lewis, said elections could be inclusive even without the Awami League if genuine public participation occurs. He defined inclusivity as enabling all segments of society — women, young voters, ethnic minorities, and diverse religious communities — to vote with fair access and meaningful participation.
On the Awami League’s ban, Lewis clarified that the UN does not take a political stance, emphasising that governments and parties must be questioned directly on such issues.
Bangladesh UNDP representative Liller and a UNDP spokesperson were contacted for comment on the Awami League’s letter but had not responded as of Tuesday.
Comments
