Bangladesh Elections: Sheikh Hasina-Led Awami League Retains Power With Overwhelming Majority In Parliament

An alliance led by Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League has won an overwhelming majority in the country’s parliament , The Times Of India has reported. The leader won 287 of the 298 seats in the country.

However, the opposition has claimed that the elections were rigged. The National Unity Front led by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has called for a fresh poll under neutral administration. Police have said that 17 people were killed during the course of elections.

"The whole election was completely manipulated. It should be cancelled”, opposition leader Kamal Hossain told. He alleged that the elections conducted were neither fair nor free. While admitting that past elections were bad, he said this election was far worse than any other election in Bangladesh.

The newly elected Prime Minister will be meeting opposition leaders to discuss her next moves. Hasina is expected to increasing minimum wages in the country’s garment industry after coming to power according to leaders of the party.

The election commission has decided to conduct a re-poll in one constituency where there was violence and another in a seat where the candidate died days before the election.