DHAKA, Bangladesh – Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina criticized the opposition’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for boycotting the general elections on Sunday and referred to it as a “terrorist organization.” Hasina, who was determined to maintain democratic principles in the country, cast her vote at City College in Dhaka accompanied by her family. She emphasized the significance of democracy for the nation’s progress, stating that without it, development would be hindered. Hasina hopes for a fifth term in power for her party, the Awami League, and believes that the support of the people will secure this mandate.
Contrarily, the BNP, led by former Prime Minister Khalida Zia, refused to participate in the elections, claiming that they would not be free and fair. Additionally, the party called for a 48-hour nationwide strike to demand the resignation of Hasina’s “illegal government” and urged citizens to refrain from participating in what they deemed a “sham” election. With the absence of the main opposition party, Hasina is expected to win a fourth consecutive term and a fifth overall in this 12th general assembly election.
A total of 119.6 million registered voters were eligible to vote in this election, which was held in 299 out of 300 constituencies. The voting was conducted at over 42,000 polling stations across the country. However, the election at one center will be held at a later date due to the death of a candidate. The election involves 27 political parties with over 1,500 candidates, in addition to 436 independent candidates. Nearly 120 million eligible voters consist of almost an equal number of women and approximately 15 million first-time voters.
In summary, Prime Minister Hasina expressed her commitment to democracy and denounced the BNP as a “terrorist organization” for boycotting the general elections. She believes that sustaining democratic principles is crucial for the development of Bangladesh. The absence of the main opposition party gives Hasina a strong chance of winning a fourth consecutive term and a fifth term overall. The election, with 119.6 million eligible voters, was held in 299 constituencies at 42,000 polling stations.