Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina secured her fourth consecutive term as her party, the Awami League, achieved an absolute majority in the general election, marked by a low turnout and a boycott by the main opposition, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
According to unofficial results released by the Election Commission, the Awami League holds 165 out of 224 seats, with the outcome of the remaining seats still pending announcement, Reuters reported.
The BNP, which participated in the 2018 polls but abstained in 2014, boycotted the election after Hasina rejected their demands for her resignation and the appointment of a neutral authority to oversee the electoral process.
In response, the BNP called for a two-day nationwide strike through Sunday, urging the public to reject the election.
The election, held for 299 directly elected parliamentary seats, witnessed violence and a notable decline in voter participation.
The Chief Election Commissioner, Kazi Habibul Awal, reported a turnout of approximately 40% when polls closed, a significant drop from the over 80% turnout in the previous 2018 election.
Nearly 120 million voters had the opportunity to choose from nearly 2,000 contestants. Election to one seat will be held at a later date following the death of an independent contestant due to natural causes before the vote.
While Hasina, aged 76, has been credited with revitalising Bangladesh’s economy and its key garment industry, critics accuse her of authoritarianism, human rights violations, crackdowns on free speech, and suppression of dissent.
The election results underscore a polarised political landscape amid ongoing anti-government protests in Dhaka since late October, resulting in at least 14 deaths.
