Bangladesh election sees opposition boycott as polls open
Polls open in Bangladesh election as citizens cast their votes amidst opposition boycott Sheikh Hasina, the world's longest serving female prime minister, aims for a historic fourth consecutive term
Polls opened in Bangladesh on Sunday for a general election with the country's leader, Sheikh Hasina, set to win her fourth consecutive term as the main opposition party boycotts the election. Bangladesh, home to 170 million people, is the first country in South Asia to hold elections this year, with approximately 120 million registered voters.
Political turmoil has engulfed the nation in the lead-up to the upcoming general election this Sunday. On the eve of the vote, polling booths were deliberately set on fire, resulting in the tragic deaths of four individuals, including two children, in a train fire, as per Reuters.
In addition to the political instability, the country is grappling with severe economic challenges, prompting the need for a nearly $5 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund last year.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been in office since 2009, cast her vote in the capital city of Dhaka. A victory would secure a fifth overall win for her alliance led by the Awami League.
"Our nation is sovereign and independent, and despite being small, we have a large population," she stated during a press conference in Dhaka. "We have achieved democratic rights for our people and are committed to improving their quality of life. That is our primary objective."
She emphasized the importance of upholding democracy in the country, stating that development cannot happen without it. International monitoring organizations have voiced worries about the country's shift towards a single-party system.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, the main opposition, has decided to boycott the elections as Prime Minister Hasina refused to step down and allow a neutral caretaker government to oversee the election. This decision comes following earlier reporting by CNN's Rhea Mogul.
