Sheikh Hasina Secures Fifth Term as Bangladeshi Prime Minister in One-Sided Election
In a landslide victory, Sheikh Hasina has secured her fifth consecutive term as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. The Bangladeshi general election, however, was marred by controversy as the opposition party, led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), boycotted the election, resulting in a lack of parliamentary opposition.
One of the key issues during the election was the rise of independent candidates, who secured the second-highest number of seats. Many of these contenders had been rejected by the ruling party, the Awami League, but were allegedly asked to run as “dummy candidates”. This strategy raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.
The Election Commission announced a 40 percent voter turnout, but doubts have been raised about the accuracy of this figure. Several analysts believe that the actual turnout was much lower, questioning the transparency of the election. The confusion surrounding the announcement of the turnout figure has also added to the skepticism.
Election observer organization, Brotee, criticized the significant increase in the turnout figure and questioned the credibility of the Election Commission. Additionally, BNP leaders claimed that most polling booths were empty throughout the day, leading them to declare a 48-hour strike as a means to reduce the turnout. On the other hand, leaders of the Awami League dismissed these claims and hailed the election as a victory for democracy.
Despite the controversy surrounding the election, it has been described as one of the most peaceful in the country’s history, with minimal violence reported. Foreign election observers focused primarily on the technical aspects of the voting process and refrained from commenting on the political scenario.
Nevertheless, the BNP has challenged the legitimacy of the election and criticized the victory of the Awami League. The opposition party continues to voice concerns about alleged electoral irregularities and the domination of the ruling party in the political landscape.
As Sheikh Hasina begins her fifth term as prime minister, Bangladesh is likely to witness ongoing debates and tensions surrounding the credibility and fairness of the election. The future of the opposition party and the country’s democratic process remains uncertain.
“Prone to fits of apathy. Devoted music geek. Troublemaker. Typical analyst. Alcohol practitioner. Food junkie. Passionate tv fan. Web expert.”