Bangladesh Election Updates. Voting begins for elections, opposition parties boycott, Sheikh Hasina certain to return to power

Dhaka. Voting for the general elections in Bangladesh started on Sunday. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is almost certain to return to power as the main opposition party Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) boycotted the elections. Voting began at 8 am local time and will continue till 5 pm.

According to the country’s Election Commission, a total of 11.96 crore registered voters will exercise their franchise in the voting to be held on Sunday at more than 42,000 polling stations. More than 1,500 candidates from 27 political parties are contesting the elections and apart from them there are also 436 independent candidates. More than 100 foreign observers, including three observers from India, will monitor the 12th general elections. This election is being conducted amidst tight security. The Election Commission said that the results are expected from the morning of January 8.

Prime Minister Hasina’s ruling Awami League is expected to win for the fourth consecutive time as former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s (78) party BNP has boycotted the election. Khaleda is under house arrest after being convicted on corruption charges. BNP has called for a 48-hour nationwide strike from Saturday. The opposition Jatiya Party is also included among the 27 political parties contesting the elections. The rest are members of the ruling Awami League-led coalition, which experts have described as constituents of the “electoral bloc”.

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