From her exile in India, Bangladesh’s ousted leader Sheikh Hasina has slammed the country’s upcoming election after her party was barred from the polls. International observers and human rights groups have been invited to monitor the process, the statement added. Human rights and minority groups have accused the interim authorities of failing to protect civil and political rights. Hasina’s party has alleged arbitrary arrests and deaths in custody of its members, claims that the government has denied. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, led by Tarique Rahman, 60, has emerged as the leading contender in the vote.