Bangladesh General Elections 2024: Sheikh Hasina Secures Fifth Term Amid Low Turnout And Opposition Boycott

In a general election marked by low voter turnout and opposition boycotts, Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has secured her fifth consecutive term, solidifying her position as the world's longest-serving female head of state.

As reported by Hindustan Times, Awami League secured an absolute majority, winning 216 out of 224 seats in the recently concluded 12th general elections.

However, despite the victory, Hasina has directed her party members to refrain from organising victory processions, as reported by Dhaka Tribune.

It's important to note that the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, boycotted the polls, citing alleged anti-national activities by the ruling party.

The BNP's decision to boycott the elections was triggered by Hasina's refusal to step down, leading to demands for the establishment of a neutral caretaker government.

The elections, held on Sunday (7 January), witnessed a significant dip in voter turnout, with only 40 per cent of eligible voters exercising their franchise.

Preliminary results reported by TV stations indicate that the Awami League secured 216 seats out of a total of 299, while independent candidates won 52 seats, and the Jatiya Party secured 11 seats.

However, the Election Commission is yet to announce the final results for all constituencies.

While the election day itself remained relatively calm with minimal disturbances, pre-election protests saw at least eighteen incidents of arson, resulting in four fatalities.

Authorities attributed much of the violence to the BNP, accusing the party of attempting to disrupt the electoral process.