Bangladesh’s 11th Parliamentary Elections Marked by Controversy as Sheikh Hasina Seeks Fourth Term

Bangladesh held its 11th general election on January 7, 2024. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was running for a record-breaking fourth term in a row. Many people thought the Awami League would win, but there were claims of government corruption, violations of human rights, and the major opposition party’s boycott, which made the election process less than ideal.

Key Players:

In a unique move, Sheikh Hasina, who is currently Prime Minister and leader of the Awami League, wants to stay in office for a fourth term.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which is the main opposition party and is run by Khaleda Zia, is not voting because they don’t think the election will be fair.

Issues at Stake:

Economic Growth: 

Bangladesh’s economy has grown a lot under Hasina’s rule, but there are still problems with poverty, inequality, and creating jobs.

Democracy and Corruption: The opposition says Hasina’s government is stifling dissent, critics, and the free flow of information, which makes people worry that democratic ideals are being lost.

Human Rights Abuse:

Reports of killings, disappearances, and torture by security forces that didn’t follow the law have come up under Hasina’s rule, which has led foreign human rights groups to call for action to be taken.

The election and what happened:

Low Turnout: Only about 40% of eligible voters showed up to vote in the election. This was largely because the opposition refused to participate and there were claims of voter bullying.

Awami League Win: 

Even though voting was low, the Awami League won a large majority of seats, securing Hasina’s fourth term in office.

Concerns from other countries: observers from other countries said the election wasn’t fair or clear, and the European Union asked the government to fix these problems and uphold democratic ideals.

Uncertainties and Challenges:

Political Polarization: The opposition is questioning the legitimacy of Hasina’s win, which will make the already polarized political situation in Bangladesh even worse.

Concerns about human rights: Reports of ongoing violations of human rights are still a major international issue that affects Bangladesh’s place in the world and its relationships with human rights groups.

Economic Sustainability: 

The economy has grown under Hasina’s leadership. Maintaining this success and reducing income inequality will be very important for Bangladesh’s long-term stability.

After Bangladesh’s 11th parliamentary elections, there was a lot of controversy and uncertainty. This shows that the country needs to deal with important problems like democracy, human rights, and economic growth right away. Getting through these problems will be important for Bangladesh’s future growth and stability on the world stage.