Bangladesh poll begins: With no Opposition, Hasina favourite to win; some facts

Awami League, helmed by the charismatic Sheikh Hasina, is poised to win for a straight fourth time as the main Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by former PM Khaleda Zia, who has been under house arrest as a convict of corruption charges, boycotted the polls.

Dhaka:The voting in Bangladesh began on Sunday in the general elections expected to be won by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the absence of the main Opposition BNP which is boycotting it. Voting began at 8 am local time and will continue till 5 pm.

A total of 119.6 million registered voters are eligible to vote at Sunday's polls in more than 42,000 polling stations, according to the country's Election Commission. The voting is being held in 299 out of 300 constituencies. The election to one centre will be held later as a candidate died there.

More than 1,500 candidates from 27 political parties are contesting in the election besides 436 independent candidates. Over 100 foreign observers, including three from India, will monitor the 12th general election, which is being held under tight security.

The election commission said it expected the results to start flowing from early on January 8. Hasina, 76, has been in power since 2009 and her Awami League won the last election in December 2018. The BNP says it does not have any confidence in Hasina presiding over a free and fair election.It demanded Hasina step down to make way for a caretaker government to organise the vote.But the demand was met with a severe government crackdown, which saw tens of thousands of BNP members arrested and at least 11 of them killed by security forces during street protests, raising concerns over valid elections in the garments hub of the world

The BNP boycotted the 2014 election but joined the one in 2018. Prime Minister Hasina's ruling Awami League is expected to win for a straight fourth time as the main Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of former premier Khaleda Zia, 78, who is under house arrest as a convict of graft charges, boycotted the polls.

The BNP is observing a 48-hour nationwide general strike which began at 6 am on Saturday and will end at 6 am on Monday. The 27 political parties that are contesting the elections include the opposition Jatiya Party (JAPA). The rest are members of the ruling Awami League-led coalition, which experts dub as "satellite parties."

Bangladesh elections: Facts you need to know

Voting had begun in Bangladesh at 8am (local time) and will end at 5pm. The results will be declared on January 8.

The 27 political parties are in the fray including the opposition Jatiya Party (JAPA). The rest are members of the ruling Awami League-led coalition, also dubbed as "satellite parties" by experts.

On the eve of the election, violence erupted as a passenger train was set on fire. Four persons were killed in the incident. Besides, several incidents of arson attacks on buildings are being reported from across the country.

The chief election commissioner (CEC) of Bangaldesh, Kazi Habibul Awal on Saturday evening said that vote rigging, ballot snatching, money transactions, and possible use of muscle power in favour of any candidate or candidates is strictly resisted.

Tens of thousands of rival politicians and supporters were held just before the polls. The government officials argue that the arrests were made not because of political vendetta but rather specific criminal charges such as arson.

Three Indian observers are among 100 foreign experts, who will monitor the 12th general election, which is being held under tight security.

Hasina has been at the helm of one of the world’s fastest-growing economies in South Asia over the past 15 years. She is in power since 2009 and won the last election in December 2018.

Bangladesh faced violent protests in 2022 after a jump in the cost of living due to global economic headwinds which forced the Awami League government to desperately seek the International Monetary Fund's support as the foreign reserves depleted as an energy crisis and high inflation. (With agency inputs)

Read More