Bangladesh to vote in general elections today, main Opposition boycott polls – India TV

Bangladesh Elections 2024: Common elections in Bangladesh are all set to happen on Sunday amid remoted incidents of pre-poll violence and boycotting of elections by key opposition leaders. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is anticipated to win a fourth straight time period within the absence of the principle Opposition BNP which on Saturday started a 48-hour nationwide strike towards the “unlawful authorities” amidst sporadic violence. The polling shall be held in 300 constituencies throughout the nation. Bangladesh election fee has mentioned that it has practically accomplished ballot preparations.

A complete of 119.6 million (11.96 crore) registered voters are eligible to vote at Sunday’s polls in additional than 42,000 polling stations, in response to the nation’s Election Fee.
Greater than 1,500 candidates from 27 political events are contesting within the election moreover 436 unbiased candidates.
Over 100 international observers, together with three from India, will monitor the twelfth common election, which is being held below tight safety.
“We wish our common elections to be noticed not solely nationally however internationally as nicely. Bangladesh is a member of the UN and in addition a signatory in several worldwide devices just like the Common Declaration of Human Rights and ICCPR (Worldwide Covenant on Civil and Political Rights),” Bangladesh Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal mentioned.
The election fee mentioned voting will begin at 8 am and can finish at 5 pm. The outcomes are anticipated to start out flowing from early on January 8.
Prime Minister Hasina’s ruling Awami League is anticipated to win for a straight fourth time as the principle Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Occasion (BNP) of former premier Khaleda Zia, 78, who’s below home arrest as a convict of graft expenses, boycotted the polls.
Hasina, 76, in a nationally televised deal with this week has urged the pro-democratic and law-abiding events to not gas concepts that “disrupt” the nation’s constitutional course of. The BNP has referred to as for a 48-hour nationwide common strike which started at 6 am and can finish at 6 am on Monday.
The variety of automobiles on the road is fewer in comparison with different days, however regardless of worry of arson assaults, public automobiles have been plying the streets.
The 27 political events which can be contesting the elections embrace the opposition Jatiya Occasion (JAPA). The remainder are members of the ruling Awami League-led coalition, which consultants dub as “satellite tv for pc events.”
Forward of the elections, Hasina’s authorities arrested tens of 1000’s of rival politicians and supporters, a transfer which rights teams have condemned as an try to paralyse the Opposition.
Prime Minister Hasina mentioned the Awami League, each time it got here to energy, ensured the financial and social growth of the individuals of the nation.
Authorities deployed Military troops throughout the nation two days in the past “in help of civil administration” to take care of peace and order in the course of the voting.
Regardless of the strict safety preparations, unidentified individuals carried do-it-yourself bomb and arson assaults in empty polling centres in 4 out of 64 administrative districts, whereas BNP activists clashed with police in one other district, leaving 5 individuals wounded on Friday.
Not less than 14 arson assaults have been reported in 16 hours until 9:30 am Saturday, in response to Fireplace Service statistics.
Not less than 4 individuals have been killed when a passenger practice was torched by arsonists close to Dhaka on Friday night time. The BNP has demanded a UN-supervised investigation into the incident which it described as a “pre-planned” act of sabotage.

With inputs from PTI

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