Awami League Introduces “No Boat, No Vote” Slogan After Sheikh Hasina Orders Election Boycott
Voters of the Awami League will not go to polling booths in Bangladesh’s upcoming national parliamentary election. Awami League President Sheikh Hasina has instructed party leaders to explain to activists and supporters so that they do not go to polling stations on election day.
Following this directive from Sheikh Hasina, the Awami League leadership has introduced a new slogan, “No Boat, No Vote.” The Awami League’s electoral symbol, the boat, will not be seen in the upcoming election. Since the Yunus government has banned the activities of Sheikh Hasina’s party under the Anti-Terrorism Act, the country’s oldest political party has not been given the opportunity to participate in the election.
On Sunday, Sheikh Hasina held a virtual meeting with the Awami League Working Committee. In a meeting held about two weeks earlier, she had told party leaders that the Awami League does not want to boycott the election and that they should campaign with the message that the party is ready to participate if given the opportunity. Over the past two weeks, Awami League leaders had promoted through various platforms that they want to take part in the election. That message was conveyed from the party to the highest levels of the government.
On Monday, a senior Awami League leader said that they received no response from the government. Following this, Sheikh Hasina told party leaders in Sunday’s meeting to introduce a new narrative and campaign accordingly. She said that where there is no boat in the election, there can be no Awami League leaders, activists, or supporters either. Supporters must be made to understand that under no circumstances should they go to polling booths.
Over the past few days, Sheikh Hasina has alleged in speeches on social media that BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami are threatening Awami League voters in various ways to force them to go to polling stations. Minority voters are also being intimidated in the same manner. In Sunday’s meeting, Sheikh Hasina told party leaders that they must explain to Awami League voters that boycotting the polling booths can be an ideal form of protest.
