Asif Nazrul, adviser on law, justice, parliamentary affairs, and expatriate welfare, has alleged that exiled leaders of the Awami League are issuing orders to kill members of the interim government. He made the accusation on Tuesday, February 10, after a meeting with a visiting Commonwealth delegation observing Bangladesh’s 13th national election. The meeting took place at the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment in Dhaka.

Nazrul said that when the delegation asked about making the election more inclusive, he replied that no one could be forced to join the process. According to him, Awami League leaders showed no intention to participate and were instead directing violence from abroad against July uprising participants and interim government officials. He added that trials were ongoing for senior Awami League figures linked to the July killings, and the party’s top leader had received a death sentence, yet no remorse or condemnation had been expressed by the party.

Nazrul also commented on women’s participation, saying there was no environment of fear for female voters and that their turnout was expected to increase compared to previous elections.