Bangladesh Election Update: Commencement of General Election Voting as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Aims for a Fourth Consecutive Term, Marking the Fifth Overall for the Awami League-led Alliance.
The Bangladesh Election elections unfold amidst a backdrop of pre-election turmoil, raising concerns for further unrest. The primary opposition force, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and allied parties have declared a boycott of the polls, prompting fears of heightened tensions. The BNP has additionally called for a nationwide strike spanning two days from Saturday.
Allegations of Bangladesh Election election credibility surround the opposition’s decision, claiming the ruling Awami League has fielded “dummy” candidates as independents to create a facade of legitimacy. However, these claims are denied by the ruling party. Tensions escalated in Bangladesh in October during a large anti-government rally, demanding Prime Minister Hasina’s resignation and the formation of a caretaker government for election oversight. The government cited a lack of constitutional provision for such a caretaker setup.
Bangladesh Election Insights: A Comprehensive Guide to Stay Informed
1.Voting commenced nationwide in Bangladesh at 8 am (local time), scheduled to conclude at 5 pm. Preliminary election results are anticipated to emerge early on January 8.
2.The election encompasses a vast electorate, with 119.6 million registered voters eligible to cast their ballots across over 42,000 polling stations, as reported by the country’s Election Commission.
3.A diverse political landscape is reflected in the participation of over 1,500 candidates representing 27 political parties, alongside 436 independent candidates.
4.Among the 27 political parties vying in the elections, the opposition features the Jatiya Party (JAPA), while the remainder align with the ruling Awami League-led coalition, often referred to as “satellite parties” by experts.
5.The night before the election witnessed outbreaks of violence, marked by the tragic incident of a passenger train being set ablaze, resulting in the loss of four lives. Reports from Dhaka Tribune indicate numerous instances of arson attacks on buildings occurring throughout the country.
6.The Chief Election Commissioner of Bangladesh, Kazi Habibul Awal, has issued a cautionary statement, asserting that the elections may be annulled if any irregularities are detected in the polling process.
7.In a Saturday evening address to the nation, he emphatically stated that activities such as vote rigging, ballot snatching, monetary transactions, and potential use of force to support any candidate are vehemently opposed, as reported by PTI.
8.Before the elections, the government led by Hasina took into custody tens of thousands of opposition politicians and their supporters. Government officials contend that these arrests were not based on political affiliations but were a response to specific criminal charges, including arson, as reported by the Associated Press.
9.More than 100 foreign observers, including three from India, are set to oversee the 12th general election, held under stringent security measures. Sheikh Hasina has steered one of South Asia’s swiftest-growing economies for the past 15 years. In power since 2009, she secured victory in the last election in December 2018, a contest marked by violence and allegations of electoral misconduct.
10.The country’s once robust economy faced challenges in 2022, witnessing violent protests following a surge in the cost of living amid a global economic slowdown. Hasina’s government, grappling with depleting foreign reserves, sought urgent assistance from the International Monetary Fund due to an energy crisis and soaring inflation triggering a balance of payments crisis.
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