New Delhi, Nov. 12 -- There is no alternative to elections for sustaining democracy in any country. In Bangladesh's history, fair electoral systems have repeatedly been disrupted. To date, the country has held 12 parliamentary elections. Except for those held in 1991, 1996, 2001 and 2008, all others have been widely regarded as questionable.

Following the 2008 election, the subsequent polls in 2014, 2018, and 2024 were largely considered political showcases - often described by the public as "selections, not elections." These processes effectively rendered Sheikh Hasina an unelected prime minister. Last 16 years the people of Bangladesh have been deprived of the right to a free and fair election, an unfortunate reality for a nation.

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