Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been re-elected for a record fourth term in Bangladesh’s parliamentary election, securing an overwhelming majority for her party, the Awami League. Despite a campaign marred by violence and a boycott from the main opposition party, Hasina’s party has won 216 out of 299 seats, according to election officials. The ruling party has crossed the majority mark, and a final official declaration of the vote outcome is expected soon. Independent candidates have won 52 seats, while the third-largest party, Jatiya Party, has secured 11 seats. This victory secures Hasina’s position as the longest-serving leader in Bangladesh’s history.
The election took place amidst a backdrop of tensions as Hasina’s government arrested numerous rival politicians ahead of the polls. The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, boycotted the election. Zia herself is under house arrest after being convicted in a corruption case. However, the BNP has refused to accept the election results.
Prime Minister Hasina, who has been voted to Parliament from the Gopalganj-3 constituency eight times since 1986, has also won her latest election with an overwhelming majority. In her constituency, she secured 249,965 votes, while her closest competitor, M. Nizam Uddin Lashkar from the Bangladesh Supreme Party, received just 469 votes.
The election campaign was marred by violence, with at least 18 arson attacks reported. One notable incident occurred on Friday night when a train was attacked, resulting in four deaths. Seven individuals associated with the BNP and its youth wing were subsequently arrested for their alleged involvement in the train attack. The Sheikh Hasina government has defended the election, citing the participation of 27 parties and 404 independent candidates.
Despite the controversies surrounding the election, Prime Minister Hasina’s victory solidifies her position as Bangladesh’s leader for a fifth term. The government’s focus will now be on addressing the challenges facing the country and working towards its development goals.
