Bangladesh's 2026 Election: Excluding Awami League Fails Democracy Test

• Bangladesh's interim government announced February 2026 elections, barring the Awami League, the country's largest political party, from contesting.
• Former PM Sheikh Hasina, Awami League leader, was convicted by a judiciary reconstituted after the 2024 regime change, raising questions about its independence.
• The article argues that excluding a major party and conducting elections under intimidation undermines democratic principles and is a "farce."
• Western governments are criticized for their "complicity" in legitimizing this process, which is seen as regime change rather than true democracy restoration.
• India is urged to insist on inclusive participation, independent institutions, and credible observation for Bangladesh's stability and democratic future.

Why It Matters: Bangladesh's 2026 election, by excluding Awami League and lacking independent institutions, fails the democracy test.