In a general election held on Sunday, Bangladesh witnessed a significant absence of voters as citizens largely stayed away from the polls. The election is expected to secure Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina a fourth consecutive term, despite being marred by violence and a boycott by the main opposition party.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and some smaller allies boycotted the election, raising concerns among rights groups about the potential establishment of virtual one-party rule by Hasina's Awami League. With a population of 170 million people, Bangladesh faced a turnout of about 40%, a stark decline from the over 80% turnout in the previous election in 2018.
The United States and Western nations, major customers of Bangladesh's garment industry, have called for a free and fair election. However, initial results are expected to be announced early on Monday.
Voting irregularities led to the cancellation of polls at seven centers, while a candidate from the Awami League had their candidature canceled for threatening security officials, according to Jahangir Alam, the secretary of the election commission.
The BNP, which boycotted two out of the past three elections, accuses Hasina's party of attempting to legitimize a sham vote. Hasina rejected the BNP's demand for her resignation, insisting that the opposition has incited anti-government protests leading to violence in Dhaka since late October, resulting in at least 14 deaths.
The BNP declared a nationwide two-day strike, urging people to shun the election. BNP leader Abdul Moyeen Khan claimed the boycott call was a success, stating, "The people of the country boycotted the government by not going to the polling booths."
Prime Minister Hasina, in her 15 years in power, has been credited with revitalizing Bangladesh's economy and the crucial garment industry. However, critics accuse her of authoritarianism, human rights violations, and crackdowns on free speech.
In the lead-up to the election, at least four people were killed in a passenger train fire, labeled as arson by the government. Additionally, several polling booths, schools, and a Buddhist monastery were set ablaze days before the poll.
Despite the deployment of nearly 800,000 security forces to guard polling booths and maintain peace, clashes between supporters of the Awami League and independent candidates were reported in some districts. Allegations surfaced that ruling party cadres were involved in stuffing sealed ballot papers in voting boxes.
Prime Minister Hasina, accompanied by her family, voted at Dhaka's City College, expressing confidence in her party's victory. "Bangladesh is a sovereign country, and people are my power," she said, emphasizing her commitment to democracy.
With 120 million voters choosing from nearly 2,000 candidates, the election included 436 independent candidates, the highest since 2001. The BNP, with its top leaders either in jail or exile, accused the Awami League of propping up "dummy" candidates to give the election a semblance of credibility, a claim denied by the ruling party.
As the country faces economic challenges, including a slowdown exacerbated by the Russia-Ukraine war, and with Bangladesh seeking a bailout from the International Monetary Fund, the election outcome will have significant implications for the nation's future.