Bangladesh is bracing for its forthcoming general elections set to take place on Sunday, with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina anticipated to secure a fourth consecutive term despite the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) launching a 48-hour nationwide strike against what it deems an “illegal government.”
The Election Commission of Bangladesh has reported near-completion of voting readiness in all constituencies, ensuring security arrangements throughout the country. Bangladesh’s Parliament comprises 300 seats, with election proceedings postponed in one constituency following the natural demise of an independent candidate.
A staggering 119.6 million registered voters are poised to cast their ballots at over 42,000 polling stations during Sunday’s polls, according to the Election Commission. A comprehensive roster includes over 1,500 candidates from 27 political parties and 436 independent candidates vying for seats in the election.
Keeping an eye on the process
To ensure transparency and fairness, more than 100 foreign observers, including three from India, will monitor the electoral process, tightly overseen by stringent security measures.
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal has issued a stern warning, asserting that any irregularities detected during the national polls might prompt a complete annulment of the election. Addressing the nation, Awal emphasized the commission’s resolve to resist vote rigging, ballot snatching, monetary transactions, or the potential use of coercion to sway election outcomes. Any candidate found involved in such malpractices will face immediate disqualification, and voting might be suspended in the respective constituency or polling center.
Voting is scheduled to commence at 8 am and conclude at 5 pm, with initial results anticipated to surface from January 8.
Boycott from Opposition
Prime Minister Hasina’s ruling Awami League is poised for a successive win, given the boycott by the BNP, whose leader, former Premier Khaleda Zia, is under house arrest over graft charges. Hasina, in a televised address, urged pro-democratic parties to maintain peace and refrain from disrupting constitutional processes.
Despite the BNP’s strike, streets witnessed reduced vehicular movement, while public transport cautiously operated amid fears of potential unrest. The ongoing election boycott campaign by the BNP, enforced through transport blockades and strikes over the past three months, underscores their contention that an election held under the incumbent government lacks fairness and credibility.
(With inputs from PTI)
