‘Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency: Sk. Sheikh Hasina said that since Thursday morning, voter turnout at polling stations in the country was ‘negligible’. Many polling stations in several parts of the country, including the capital Dhaka, were ‘empty of voters’. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called Bangladesh’s parliamentary elections a ‘farce vote’. Voter turnout in Thursday’s vote was low. Hasina claimed on social media that the countrymen rejected this ‘farce vote’. The Awami League chief also thanked them for that. The secretary of the Election Commission of Bangladesh said that till 12 noon on Thursday (Bangladesh time), the voter turnout in 32,789 centres across the country was 32.88 percent. Hasina said that the people of the country have rejected this vote. She wrote on Facebook, ‘Today’s so-called election by Yunus, who seized power through illegal and unconstitutional means, was basically a well-planned farce. The people's right to vote, democratic values and the spirit of the constitution have been shown the thumb's finger and the fraudulent election without Awami League - without voters has been organized.'
Hasina did not stop here. She also alleged vote buying and rigging. She also alleged that there was violence in the election. Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Hasina wrote, 'This farce began with the occupation of polling stations, shooting, money laundering to buy and sell votes, sealing of ballot papers and taking signatures of agents on the result sheets since the evening of February 11.' She said that the presence of voters at polling stations in the country since Thursday morning was 'negligible'. Many polling stations in several parts of the country, including the capital Dhaka, were 'empty of voters'. Hasina's party Awami League could not participate in this Bangladesh election. Their activities were suspended by the interim government of Bangladesh. Hasina said that the people of Bangladesh have 'rejected' this election without Awami League. She wrote, 'The people have boycotted and rejected this election without Awami League.' In this context, she also presented the voting statistics. Hasina wrote in her post, “According to the Election Commission’s statement, the voter turnout was only 14.96 percent till 11 am on Thursday (in three and a half hours). Hasina believes that “this low participation of the people at the prime time of voting” proves that they have rejected the vote.
Hasina alleged that attempts were made to forcefully take Awami League workers and supporters to the polling stations. For this, they were ‘intimidated’. They have also been ‘attacked’ in the last few days. According to Hasina, “ignoring all intimidation, they boycotted and rejected this fraudulent election. As a result, most of the polling stations in the country were practically empty of voters.” Hasina also questioned the increase in the number of voters in Dhaka. She said that this issue is ‘unbelievable’. Her party leaders have also expressed concern over this. An Awami League leader said, “According to the Election Commission’s announcement, 14.96 percent of the votes were cast in the three and a half hours till 11 am on Friday. In the next hour, the voter turnout increased by 32.88 percent. This is abnormal. The history of Bangladesh's voting shows that the voter turnout is highest till 11 am. After 12 pm, there are only a few voters at the polling stations.''
After this, Hasina demanded that the 'illegal and unconstitutional' election without voters be cancelled. She also demanded that the moratorium on the activities of the Awami League be lifted. She also demanded that free and fair elections be held under the caretaker government. Hasina also demanded that the 'false cases filed against all professionals including teachers, journalists and intellectuals, including prisoners, be withdrawn.''
The voting phase began at 7:30 am (Bangladesh time) on Thursday. The voting phase was going on without any problems in the morning. Till 12 noon, 32.88 percent votes were cast in 32,789 polling stations in the country. However, an Awami League leader claimed that only 14.96 percent votes were cast till 11 am. The Awami League leader also claimed that the increase in the voting rate in an hour is 'unusual'. According to the commission, 47.91 percent of votes were cast in 36,031 polling stations till 2 pm.
BNP has expressed concern over this voting rate. They claim that voter turnout is quite low everywhere. They have separately expressed concern over the voting rate in three divisions including Dhaka. The party's statement said, 'Voters' turnout at polling stations is quite low across the country. Such a situation is not good for us. The more people vote, the more our votes will increase.' This time, Hasina also pointed a finger at the interim government regarding the voting rate.