Bangladesh Enters National Elections While The Main Opposition Party – BNP Boycotts Polls

On Sunday, voters in Bangladesh started casting ballots in the general elections that are predicted to be won by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, as the main opposition BNP is abstaining from voting. Voting is open from 8 a.m. local time to 5 p.m.

119.6 million registered voters to decide for Bangladesh in elections

The nation’s Election Commission reports that 119.6 million registered voters nationwide are qualified to cast ballots at more than 42,000 polling places on Sunday. Of the 300 constituencies, 299 are holding voting. A candidate passed away at one center, therefore the election there will take place later.

In addition to 436 independents, almost 1,500 candidates representing 27 political parties are running for office. The 12th general election is being closely watched by more than 100 foreign observers, three of them are from India.

The electoral commission stated that it anticipated the results would be out early on January 8. Since 2009, Hasina, 76, has ruled; her Awami League became victorious in the most recent election in December 2018.

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Hasina to be the four-time winner

The BNP participated in the 2018 election after abstaining from the 2014 one. As the main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by former prime minister Khaleda Zia, 78, who is currently under house imprisonment after being found guilty of bribery charges, boycotted the elections, Prime Minister Hasina’s ruling Awami League is predicted to win for a record-breaking fourth time.

A 48-hour nationwide general strike called by the BNP started at 6 a.m. on Saturday and will end at 6 a.m. on Monday. The opposition Jatiya Party (JAPA) is one of the 27 political parties running in the elections. The remaining individuals are part of the alliance led by the Awami League, which is known by analysts as “satellite parties.”