DHAKA: Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has secured re-election for a fifth term in Bangladesh, officials confirmed, following a widespread opposition boycott that led to a contentious electoral process.
With more than a third of the 300 seats announced, preliminary results suggest Hasina’s Awami League and its allies have secured at least 85 percent. As counting continues, Chief Election Commissioner Habibul Awal reported a turnout of around 40 percent.
According to a spokesman of the Election Commission, Hasina’s ruling Awami League dominated the election, winning more than two-thirds of the seats in parliament, with counting ongoing. The opposition, led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), refused to participate in what they termed a “sham election,” with some opposition figures denouncing the process as a “disgrace to democratic aspirations.”
Despite Hasina’s call for citizens to demonstrate faith in the democratic process, concerns over a meager turnout of around 40 percent have been raised. The opposition’s leader, Tarique Rahman, in exile in Britain, expressed fears of “fake votes” influencing the turnout, describing the unfolding events as a “disgrace” to the democratic ideals of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Opposition Parties Term Election a “Sham Election”
While voting was largely peaceful, a protest in the port city of Chittagong was dispersed by authorities using shotguns and tear gas canisters. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, along with several other parties, staged months of protests in the lead-up to the election, demanding Hasina’s resignation.
Human Rights Watch’s Meenakshi Ganguly highlighted the government’s failure to reassure opposition supporters about the fairness of the polls, noting ongoing fears of a “further crackdown.” Bangladesh witnessed months of protests in the lead-up to the election, with demands for Hasina’s resignation.
The political landscape in Bangladesh has been historically defined by the rivalry between Hasina, the daughter of the country’s founding leader, and Khaleda Zia, a two-time premier and wife of a former military ruler. The BNP’s participation in recent elections has been limited due to mass arrests, leaving Hasina’s Awami League with almost no effective rivals.
Concerns over potential further crackdowns and allegations of a less-than-fair electoral process loom large, emphasizing the challenges faced by Bangladeshis seeking a meaningful outlet at the ballot box. Economic headwinds, including spikes in food costs and chronic blackouts in 2022, have added to the discontent, creating a potentially volatile combination for Hasina’s government.
