Alina
Bangladesh Election LIVE
As of Sunday, a significant electoral event is underway in Bangladesh, where 119.6 million registered voters are participating in the 12th general elections across more than 42,000 polling stations. The voting, which commenced at 8 am local time, will continue until 4 pm.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the leader of the Awami League-led alliance, has cast her vote in Dhaka. She is anticipated to secure a fourth consecutive term and fifth overall in this general election, despite the absence of the main opposition party BNP, which decided to boycott the polls. The pre-election period has witnessed incidents of violence, further complicating the electoral landscape.
The Election Commission reports that voting is taking place in 299 out of 300 constituencies, with the election for one center postponed due to the demise of a candidate. A total of 1,500 candidates from 27 political parties, along with 436 independent candidates, are competing for various seats.
Notably, the BNP has accused the Awami League of fielding “dummy” candidates as independents to create a semblance of credibility in the election, an allegation vehemently denied by the ruling party.
In response to the boycott by the BNP, which also refrained from participating in the 2014 polls but joined in 2018, the party has called for a nationwide two-day strike starting from Saturday, urging the public to abstain from participating in the electoral process. The situation remains dynamic, and further developments are expected as the day progresses.
