Bangladesh General Election: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Becomes President for Fourth Term Despite Opposition Boycott

08 January 2024, 02:00 AM IST

Opposition boycotted polling 40 percent

Sheikh Hasina

Dhaka: In Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina became the president for the fourth time. Hasina’s Awami League party is leading in a majority of seats in Sunday’s general election, which opposition parties boycotted as untrustworthy.

Hasina contested from Gopalganj-3 constituency and won with 2,49,965 votes. The next opponent is Bangladesh Supreme Party’s M. Nizamuddin Lashkar got only 469 votes. Hasina is winning here for the eighth time since 1986.

Around 40 percent polling was recorded on Sunday. In the 2018 general elections, it was 80 percent. As soon as the elections were over, the counting of votes began. Eight people were injured in the nationwide violence.

Polling was held in 299 of the country’s 300 parliamentary constituencies. Polling in one seat was postponed due to the death of the Awami League candidate. More than 1,500 candidates from 27 political parties and 436 independent candidates were contesting. Representatives of more than 100 countries, including India, were observers. 7.4 lakh security personnel were also deployed to maintain law and order.

However, the main opposition BNP and 15 other parties boycotted the election. BNP from 6 am on Saturday to 6 am on Monday. A nationwide strike was also announced.

Polling was canceled in one booth in Narsingdi and two in Narayanganj due to allegations of sabotage. Industries Minister Nurul Majeed Mahmood Humayun’s son has been arrested in connection with vote rigging in Narsingdi. In Chattogram-10, firing broke out during a clash between supporters of the Awami League and an independent candidate. Two people were injured. Four people, including a child, were injured in a homemade bomb blast near Booth in Hazaribagh.

B.N.P. Hasina told the media that she does not believe in democracy and India is a loyal friend who supported Bangladesh in the 1971 liberation war.

2024-01-07 20:30:00
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