1675 Prominent Citizens Call for Boycott of Upcoming February 12 National Election and Referendum

A total of 1675 prominent citizens, both from within the country and abroad, have called for a boycott of the upcoming National Parliamentary Election and Referendum scheduled for February 12. Among them are doctors, engineers, poets, writers, journalists, and others.

In a statement, they said, "We, the representatives of Bangladesh’s various professions and conscientious citizen society, express deep concern and protest against the upcoming National Election and the so-called Referendum. We call for a boycott of these processes."

They firmly believe that the current political, legal, institutional, and security environment does not support a fair, free, participatory, and credible election. What is being organized is not a democratic process but a planned political farce that will push the country into prolonged instability and international isolation.

It is worth mentioning that in the upcoming national election and referendum in Bangladesh, the Awami League is being excluded from participation. In this context, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has instructed her party to boycott the election. Leaders of the banned Awami League are calling for a boycott of the election and continuing to campaign virtually.

The citizens in the statement explained why they believe the upcoming national election and referendum are illegal and unconstitutional. They also presented a 12-point demand.

Reasons Why the Election and Referendum Are Invalid:

1. Lack of Legal and Constitutional Validity: The current government is an unelected authority with no democratic mandate. Such a government has no moral or constitutional right to organize a national election or referendum. 

    

2. Controversial Election Commission: The process of forming the Election Commission was opaque, highly biased, and influenced. It did not reflect political consensus or institutional impartiality.

    

3. Legitimacy of the Referendum: Only an elected government has the right to organize a referendum. Therefore, the current authorities have no moral or constitutional legitimacy in this matter.

    

4. Invalidity of Election Results: Any government formed through this process will not have legal or political legitimacy. This will make governance extremely difficult and severely damage international relations.

    

5. Breakdown of Law and Order and State Structures: The country is currently facing mob violence, political repression, mass arrests, suppression of free speech, and the decay of the judicial system. In this environment, no citizen can vote freely.

    

6. Absence of Major Political Forces: The country’s largest political party, the Awami League, along with many other political parties and symbols (representing more than half of the population’s support), has been deliberately excluded from the election. This makes it impossible for the election to truly represent the people.

    

7. Environment of Fear and Political Repression: Journalists, teachers, lawyers, writers, and opposition political activists are regularly subjected to false cases and harassment.

    

8. Human Rights Violations: Enforced disappearances, killings, threats, religious persecution, and insecurity for women and minorities—human rights conditions are in a state of crisis.

    

9. Lack of Impartiality: While the current government claims to be impartial, it is actually supporting specific political factions.

    

10. Politicization of the Judiciary and Administration: The country’s fundamental institutions are almost dysfunctional. There is no enforcement of law, and judicial decisions are being made under the direction of the government and powerful interests.

     

11. Risk to National Stability: This election will exacerbate political polarization, intensify social divisions, and create long-term instability.

     

12. Damage to International Relations: A government formed through a controversial election will lose international recognition, investment, and diplomatic cooperation, causing severe damage to the country.

     

13. Economic Crisis: The country’s economic condition is worse than ever before. If this election proceeds, political instability will reduce investment, disrupt trade, and weaken the economy even further.

     

14. Destruction of National Unity: Such an election will completely destroy public trust and social cohesion.

     

15. Absence of Basic Democratic Conditions: Freedom of expression, political equality, and media freedom are all ineffective. In such a situation, it is impossible to gauge public opinion through voting.

The Citizens’ Demands:

1. The immediate suspension of the election and referendum and the termination of this illegal process.

    

2. The current government must be dissolved, and its illegitimate authority must be dismantled.

    

3. A neutral interim government must be formed with the participation of all political parties.

    

4. After forming the neutral interim government, all levels of the administration must be reformed.

    

5. All political prisoners must be released, and all politically motivated cases must be withdrawn, while politically biased verdicts must be annulled.

    

6. The United Nations must investigate all murders, disappearances, and violence that occurred after August 5, 2024.

    

7. Corruption and money laundering by the ruling authorities must be brought to justice.

    

8. The judiciary must be freed from political influence, and its independence must be restored.

    

9. The safety of religious minorities, women, and marginalized groups must be ensured.

    

10. The educational environment in all educational institutions must be restored, ensuring equal opportunities for all students to receive education.

     

11. All closed industries and factories must be reopened.

     

12. Agricultural materials must be made easily accessible to farmers.