Bangladesh votes in election boycotted by opposition, Sheikh Hasina set for 5th term

Bangladesh on Sunday began voting in a high-stakes election that is expected to see Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina winning a fourth straight term and fifth overall, as the polls have been boycotted by the country’s main opposition party.

Nearly 120 million voters are voting to seal the fate of nearly 2,000 candidates in 299 seats. Heavy security is in place as the country witnessed pre-election violence, where a passenger train and several institutions were set on fire.

The Muslim-majority country has a total of 300 parliamentary seats. Polling for 299 seats began at 8 am and will end at 4 pm, according to The Dhaka Tribune. Voting in one constituency has been deferred due to the death of a candidate.

The parliamentary election in Bangladesh holds significant importance for India, particularly as Hasina is a crucial ally for New Delhi. The outcome of the polls is closely monitored by India, as it is expected to shape the political landscape of its eastern neighbour.

Counting of votes will begin after the voting ends with the initial results set to be known early on Monday.

OPPOSITION BOYCOTTS

The main opposition party, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and its allies have decided to boycott the polls, after the ruling Awami League refused to cede to their demand to hold the election under a caretaker government.

The BNP claimed that no election under the incumbent government would be ‘fair’ and ‘credible’. It has called for a 48-hour nationwide general strike which began at 6 am on Saturday and will end at 6 am on Monday.

BNP spokesperson Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said the strike was aimed at pressing for their demands for “resignation of the illegal government, establishment of a non-party neutral government and release of all party leaders and activists from prison”.

Former Prime Minister and party leader Khaleda Zia is under house arrest as a convict of graft charges.

‘TERROR PARTY’
Hasina, who cast her vote at City College in Dhaka, hit out at the BNP for boycotting the general election, saying it did not believe in democracy. She also called the BNP a “terror party”.

“The BNP does not believe in democracy and that is why they have resorted to violence to mar the poll process. The people of Bangladesh have rejected them,” she said.

“The BNP is a terror party. The party was formed through a military coup, so they are anti-democracy. Since they have not got the opportunity this time, they are trying to oppose the elections,” she said.

NO OPPOSITION IN FRAY

With no major political opponents in fray, the primary contest revolves around the ruling Awami League and independent candidates.

A total of 27 political parties are participating in these elections, with key players including former President HM Ershad’s Jatiyo Party, Trinamul BNP (an offshoot of the BNP), Islami Front, Islami Aikyo Jot, Krishan Sramik Janata League, Gana Forum, and Gana Front, among others.

SECURITY TIGHTENED
In response to the sporadic pre-poll violence, security has been tightened across Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Army, in collaboration with the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB), has been deployed in the country’s 42,000 polling stations to assist the police in maintaining law and order during the electoral process.

The Bangladesh Election Commission has said that it has nearly completed the preparedness for voting in all constituencies across the country and also ensured security arrangements.

The 12th general election in Bangladesh, conducted under stringent security measures, will be observed by more than 100 international observers, including three representatives from India.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal has warned that the election could be called off altogether if there were any irregularities found in the poll process.

“Vote rigging, ballot snatching, money transactions and possible use of muscle power in favour of any candidate or candidates will be strictly resisted,” he said.