Bangladesh (Commonwealth Union)_ Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, has secured victory for a fifth consecutive term. This triumph occurred amid a significant opposition boycott, with Hasina labeling the opposing party as a “terrorist organization.” The Election Commission spokesperson reported that Hasina’s ruling Awami League had secured more than 50 percent of the seats, with counting still in progress. Despite presiding over rapid economic growth in a nation once plagued by severe poverty, Hasina’s administration has faced accusations of widespread human rights abuses and a harsh crackdown on the opposition.
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While her party faced minimal effective competition in the seats it contested, it strategically refrained from fielding candidates in some constituencies, likely aiming to prevent the legislature from being labeled a one-party institution. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), facing significant setbacks due to mass arrests, declared a general strike and, along with numerous others, opted out of participating in what they deemed a “sham election.” In her efforts to ensure the continuation of democracy in the country, the 76-year-old Hasina urged citizens to have faith in the democratic process. However, initial reports from election officials indicated a modest turnout of approximately 40 percent.
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After casting her vote, Hasina denounced the BNP as a “terrorist organization” and emphasized her commitment to upholding democracy in Bangladesh. Media reports suggested that Hasina had secured over two-thirds of parliamentary seats, with nearly 90 percent of the results declared. According to the local media, out of the 264 seats announced from the total of 300, Hasina’s Awami League won 204, and the allied Jatiya Party secured an additional nine seats. According to local officials, one of the major winners was Shakib Al Hasan, the captain of the Bangladesh cricket team, who secured a landslide win for Hasina’s party.
Tarique Rahman, the head of the BNP, residing in exile in Britain, voiced concerns about “fake votes” being used to inflate voter turnout. He described the unfolding events as a “disgrace to the democratic aspirations of Bangladesh” and alleged witnessing “disturbing pictures and videos” supporting his claims. Some voters, like first-time voters, cast their ballots for their “favorite candidate.” However, others expressed apathy, believing the outcome was already assured when one party participated while another boycotted the election. Despite fears of further crackdowns, election officials reported that voting was largely peaceful, with nearly 800,000 police officers and soldiers deployed nationwide.
Human Rights Watch representative Meenakshi Ganguly expressed concerns that the government had failed to reassure opposition supporters about the fairness of the polls. Politics in Bangladesh, the eighth-most populous country globally, has long been dominated by the rivalry between Hasina, the daughter of the country’s founding leader, and two-time premier Khaleda Zia, the wife of a former military ruler. Hasina has been the clear victor since her return to power in a landslide victory in 2009, although subsequent polls have been marred by irregularities and allegations of rigging. Khaleda Zia, now 78, was convicted of graft in 2018 and is currently in declining health at a hospital in Dhaka, while BNP head Tarique Rahman is her son.
Accusations of arson and sabotage during last year’s protest campaign have been levied against the BNP by Hasina, despite the mostly peaceful nature of the demonstrations. The government’s security forces have faced allegations of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, which they vehemently deny. Additionally, economic challenges, including sharp increases in food costs and prolonged blackouts in 2022, have left many dissatisfied with Hasina’s government. Pierre Prakash of the International Crisis Group noted before the vote that while Hasina’s government may be less popular than in previous years, Bangladeshis have limited avenues for expressing discontent at the ballot box.
