Bangladesh is set to hold elections on Sunday, and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to secure her fifth term in office. The opposition parties, devastated by mass arrests, have boycotted the elections. Hasina’s ruling Awami League has overseen remarkable economic growth, especially in the garment industry supplying top fast fashion brands, transforming a country that was once plagued by poverty.
However, her tenure has been marred by widespread human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings, restrictions on press and communal freedoms, and a harsh crackdown on the opposition. The Awami League is facing little to no effective competition in the seats it is contesting, but it has chosen not to field candidates for a small minority of seats, possibly to avoid being labeled a one-party institution.
Many young voters express disinterest in a contest they perceive as lacking a genuine choice. Opposition parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), have demanded Hasina’s resignation in favor of a neutral caretaker government to oversee the vote. The crackdown preceding the elections led to the arrest of around 25,000 opposition figures, according to the BNP, while the government claims the figure is 11,000.
Bangladesh’s politics, the eighth-most populous country globally, has long been dominated by the rivalry between Hasina and two-time premier Khaleda Zia. Hasina, 76, has been in power since 2009, with allegations of irregularities and corruption accompanying her victories. Zia, 78, convicted of graft in 2018, is currently in poor health in a Dhaka hospital.
Zia’s son, Tarique Rahman, leading the BNP from London, has refused to participate in an election with a predetermined outcome. He argues that participating under Hasina’s leadership would undermine the sacrifices made for democracy. Hasina accuses the BNP of arson and sabotage during the previous election campaign.
The United States, Bangladesh’s largest import partner, has sanctioned a police unit and its top commanders for extrajudicial killings. Observers believe Hasina will use a mix of incentives and penalties to boost voter turnout and enhance the election’s credibility.
Despite Hasina’s successful economic management, recent challenges such as rising food prices and a balance of payments issue affecting power supplies have impacted her popularity. Frustrations with the electoral process could lead to political violence, potentially prompting increased government suppression and affecting investor confidence. Bangladeshis, though dissatisfied, may have limited options at the ballot box.
In summary, while Sheikh Hasina’s government has achieved economic growth, concerns about human rights abuses and a potentially manipulated electoral process raise questions about the legitimacy of the upcoming elections in Bangladesh.
