Former Foreign Minister of Bangladesh and former Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Professor Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen, has issued an urgent call for UN intervention to prevent what he describes as an “exclusive and illegitimate” national election in Bangladesh.
In a letter dated 05 November 2025, addressed to UN Secretary-General António Guterres and copied to UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner, Momen expressed “grave concern” that the current electoral process announced by the interim administration risks producing an election without credibility, legitimacy, or public acceptance.
Momen wrote that no election can be considered democratic if major opposition parties are barred, arguing that such exclusion violates fundamental international norms including the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 21), and the ICCPR (Article 25).
He criticized the UNDP-supported BALLOT initiative, warning that it may be perceived as endorsing an electoral process that excludes Bangladesh’s largest political party and several other major political forces who, he said, collectively represent “65–70% of popular support.”
“Democracy without choice is not democracy at all,” Momen stated, warning that supporting or appearing to support an exclusionary election could damage the UN’s credibility and embolden countries considering reducing financial contributions to the organization.
Comparison to 1996 Crisis
Momen drew a parallel with Bangladesh’s controversial February 1996 “voter-less” election, which collapsed within 12 days due to widespread rejection. He cautioned that similar exclusion today risks plunging the country into a renewed cycle of political instability.
Call for UN Leadership
Momen urged the UN to take a “clear and principled position” by pushing for:
1. Full restoration of political participation for all major parties
2. A neutral, time-bound transitional mechanism to oversee elections
3. An inclusive, transparent electoral process reflecting the will of the people
He further requested the UN to immediately engage all political stakeholders and ensure that UNDP initiatives do not inadvertently legitimize a “one-sided questionable election.”
Warning of Long-Term Instability
According to Momen, silence or inaction from the UN at this moment would be interpreted as “consent to an exclusionary and undemocratic process.” He said that Bangladesh is “on the brink of another political crisis” and that only proactive UN leadership can help prevent long-term unrest.
The interim government has not yet responded publicly to the concerns raised in the letter.
