The Bangladesh Election Commission has taken action against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, preventing her from voting in the upcoming general elections. The commission announced that Hasina’s National Identity Card (NID) has been locked, thereby revoking her voting rights.
Election Commission Secretary Akhtar Ahmed confirmed that Sheikh Hasina’s NID is locked, which means she will be unable to vote in the upcoming elections, particularly if she is outside the country.
This action extends beyond Sheikh Hasina; the NIDs of her family members and close associates have also been locked. This includes her sister Sheikh Rehana, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and her daughter Saima Wazed Putul. They are also prevented from voting.
Furthermore, the children of Sheikh Rehana and the former security advisor to Sheikh Hasina, retired Major General Tariq Siddiqui, along with their families, have been prohibited from voting. The Election Commission Secretary has not provided further comments on this decision.
The National Identity Card (NID) is a crucial document for voting purposes, particularly for those residing outside of Bangladesh. The Election Commission clarifies that individuals who have left the country for various reasons, including legal issues, can still participate in the general elections if their NID cards are active and not blocked.
This situation follows the events of the previous year where Sheikh Hasina was forced to flee to India due to a violent student movement, which resulted in the fall of her government. Subsequently, Muhammad Yunus assumed the position of chief advisor in the interim government. This was followed by legal proceedings against Hasina and other government officials, with accusations of crimes against humanity, which lead to the suspension of the Awami League party’s operations.