Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina secures fifth term amidst controversy
Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has claimed victory for a fifth consecutive term, securing an overwhelming majority in the parliament. Election officials declared that Hasina’s Awami League won three-quarters of the seats, although the polls were marred by the absence of opposition parties who boycotted the election, labeling it a “sham.”
Despite Hasina’s successful leadership in driving economic growth and alleviating poverty, her government faces accusations of human rights abuses and a harsh crackdown on dissent. The Election Commission’s Joint Secretary, Moniruzzaman Talukder, announced the Awami League’s win with 223 seats, but analysts suggest her effective control extends even further with support from allied parties.
Political scientist Ali Riaz of Illinois State University remarked, “This is a one-party parliament,” emphasizing that only allies of the Awami League had a significant presence. The Jatiya Party, a long-time ally, and independent candidates, many aligned with the ruling party, further legitimized what some critics see as one-party rule.
The opposition, notably the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which called the election a “sham,” faces diminished ranks due to mass arrests. Protests erupted in Dhaka, with opposition activists wearing black gags as a symbolic condemnation of the electoral process.
Amid concerns about fairness, Human Rights Watch’s Meenakshi Ganguly warned of a potential further crackdown, expressing the failure to reassure opposition supporters. Despite these challenges, Prime Minister Hasina called on citizens to trust the democratic process and labeled the BNP a “terrorist organization.”
Internationally, envoys from China, Russia, and India congratulated Hasina on her “absolute victory.” China’s ambassador Yao Wen highlighted the “long-established friendship” between the two countries, emphasizing the deepening ties during Hasina’s 15-year rule.
The political landscape in Bangladesh, home to 170 million people, remains dominated by the enduring rivalry between Hasina and Khaleda Zia, wife of a former military ruler. Hasina, 76, has been the consistent victor since her return to power in 2009, with allegations of irregularities and rigging in subsequent polls. Meanwhile, Zia, aged 78 and convicted of graft in 2018, is in declining health at a Dhaka hospital, with her son, Tarique Rahman, leading the BNP in exile.
