The political controversy surrounding the 13th national parliamentary elections and referendum in Bangladesh has deepened, with former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina strongly condemning the election process. She described the elections as engineered and an affront to democracy, calling for the annulment of the results and the resignation of the interim government leader, Muhammad Yunus, to ensure free and fair elections. In her official statement, Hasina stated that the election process observed by the Bangladeshi people on February 12 will be recorded as a dark chapter in the history of democratic governance.

Hasina argued that the elections were not conducted to reflect the will of the people but rather were a method to retain power through large-scale administrative interference and manipulation of figures. She characterized this electoral process under the current interim administration as one-sided and illegal, asserting that it stripped away the voting rights of the public. Her remarks emphasize the gravity of the situation and the widespread discontent among the populace regarding the election.