Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina solidified her status as the world’s longest-serving female head of government as her party claimed victory in most parliamentary seats in an election shunned by opponents and voters alike.
The Awami League, led by Hasina, secured at least 167 seats out of 299, ensuring a clear majority, as per unofficial results released by the Election Commission.
With a turnout of approximately 40%, the second lowest since the nation’s return to democracy in 1991, it marked a stark contrast to the 80% participation seen in the 2018 polls. The drop was attributed to the opposition’s call, led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, to boycott the election, protesting Hasina’s government’s crackdown in the lead-up to the polls.
Daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country’s founding father assassinated in a 1975 coup, 76-year-old Hasina, serving as prime minister since 1996, secures her Fifth term.
During her tenure, she’s been lauded for reviving the economy and bolstering the garment industry, while earning global praise for sheltering Rohingya Muslims escaping persecution in Myanmar.
Despite the ruling party’s significant win, concerns arise about one-party rule, prompting rights groups and international voices to emphasize the need for a free and fair election in the country of 170 million people.
Hasina, securing a landslide victory in her constituency Gopalganj, maintained a commanding lead over her closest rival, emphasizing her commitment to upholding democracy in Bangladesh. The party refrained from victory celebrations on her instructions.
Nearly 120 million voters participated in the polls for 299 parliamentary seats, with one election postponed due to the demise of an independent candidate before the vote.