DHAKA, JAN 7 /DNA/ – Bangladesh begun polling on Sunday, 7 January, with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League slated to win a fourth consecutive and fifth overall term after the main opposition, the Khaleda Zia-led BNP, boycotted polls.
As voting continues for the polls, PM Hasina cast her vote in Dhaka on Sunday morning.
Sources in Dhaka told The Quint that while voting begun calmly, some incidents of violence are being reported in regions across the country. In Chandgaon, Chattagram (formerly Chittagong), there were reports of clashes between BNP activists and the police.
Meanwhile, voter turnout has remained meagre across the country, with some reporting incidents of ballot stuffing and violence.
Former PM Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party have boycotted the election after Hasina refused to step down and allow a caretaker government to run the election.
The government has reportedly deployed Armed forces, to the effect of nearly 750,000 police, paramilitary and auxiliaries of the police till 10 January as tensions spiked across Bangladesh.
The BNP called for a 48-hour nationwide general strike starting Saturday to demand the resignation of the “illegal government” of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and to protest against the January 7 general election.
With the BNP boycotting the election and no other credible opposition in sight, Hasina’s Awami League is poised to secure an advantage, potentially forming the government for the fourth consecutive term.
Voting has begun on January 7 and will conclude at 4 pm (3:30 pm IST). The counting of votes will start soon after, but initial results are expected to begin rolling in on Monday.
Rights organizations have raised alarms about a series of measures undertaken by Hasina to suppress the Opposition in recent months.
According to a report from Human Rights Watch in November, approximately 10,000 BNP activists have been detained. The violence has resulted in at least 16 casualties, which include two police officers, and around 5,500 people have sustained injuries.
Meanwhile, Hasina accused the BNP of being behind the anti-government protests that had turned violent and led to the deaths of ten people in October 2023.
Major Western countries, including the U.S., urged for dialogue between the ruling Awami League and specifically the BNP to ensure an inclusive and credible election. However, progress stalled as both sides showed reluctance.
Police Fired Shotguns To Disperse Protesting Crowd: Report
The Bangladeshi Police reportedly fired shotguns in Chittagong amid a clash with Opposition activists, who had set up roadblocks as a mark of protest against the ongoing election.
Mokhlesur Rahman, Chittagong Deputy Commissioner, told AFP that shotguns had been fired to disperse around 60 people who had blocked a road by burning tyres. He added that nobody was injured and that the situation was now under control.
Website of Key Bangladeshi Newspaper Allegedly Blocked Amid Polling
A key Bangladeshi newspaper critical of the ruling government has allegedly been blocked amid voting.
Daily Manab Zamin Editor Sajid Hoque said that the newspaper had been “flooded with calls and messages” from people saying that they couldn’t access the website, AFP reported.
