Sheikh Hasina stayed in the country’s power by controlling elections. Besides, by abusing state power, she had taken over the electoral system and in fact her relationship with the people had been completely severed.
Badruddin Umar, eminent intellectual, writer, researcher and Jatiya Mukti Council president who died recently, told this in his last statement given as a witness to the investigation officer (IO) in the case against Sheikh Hasina and three others at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on charges of crimes against humanity.
Talking to the journalists, ICT Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim said,”Late Badruddin Umar was an important witness in Sheikh Hasina's case . . . This intellectual could not come to the tribunal and give evidence, but he gave his testimony to the investigating officer in this case.”
Referring to the section 19 (2) of the International Crimes Tribunal Act, prosecutor Gazi Tamim said if a witness dies after giving evidence to the investigating officer, the tribunal can accept the testimony on the application of the prosecution.
“Sheikh Hasina has manipulated every election since she assumed the office from 2009 until 2024. This was possible as she could successfully establish her control over every state’s institutions, starting from the Election Commission (EC) to the police administration and bureaucracy as well,” the prosecutor quoted Badruddin Umar as saying.
Researcher Badruddin said Sheikh Hasina had decided from the beginning that she would control the election. If she wanted to do that, it would not be possible to have a Caretaker Government. However, in 1996, she had protested and brought amendments for a Caretaker Government.
“Deposed Prime Minister Hasina was the one who abolished the Caretaker Government after assuming state power in 2009, as she realized that they would not be able to win the next time if there were fair polls. So, to win the elections, she had to bring everything under her control,” he added.
Quoting the Umar’s statement, the prosecutor said Sheikh Hasina controlled the administration in two ways - firstly by giving bribes, money and privileges, and secondly by threatening and intimidating anyone. She, however, established this control by 2009. Subsequently she held the elections in 2014, 2018 and 2024.
“In 2014, none was allowed to enter the voting centre. In 2018, the vote was held at night before the voting day. The same thing happened in 2024. She won even after holding elections in this way but they had no public support at all,” Omar said at his statement.
