Bangladesh is all set to go to the polls on Sunday and it is testing times for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is expected to win a fourth straight term in the absence of opposition BNP.
Tight security arrangements are in place ahead of the polls. Strict warning has been issued by the election commission as the nation gears for voting. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal said that if there are any irregularities in the upcoming national polls, the election will be called off altogether.
He added that vote rigging, ballot snatching, money transactions, and possible use of muscle power in favour of any candidate or candidates will be strictly resisted.
Bangladesh has a 300-member Parliament. Election in one constituency has been postponed after an independent candidate died of natural causes.
The results are expected to start flowing from early on January 8.
The opposition, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), of former premier Khaleda Zia, 78, who is under house arrest as a convict of graft charges, boycotted the polls.
Among the 27 political parties that are contesting the elections include the opposition Jatiya Party (JAPA) and members of the ruling Awami League-led coalition.
BNP’s boycott campaign
BNP has called for a 48-hour nationwide general strike that began on Saturday. As part of its vote boycott campaign, BNP has been calling countrywide general strikes.
Authorities deployed Army troops across the country two days ago "in aid of civil administration" to maintain peace and order during the voting.
However, despite security arrangements, homemade bomb and arson attacks in empty polling centres were reported in at least four districts.
At least 14 arson attacks were reported in 16 hours till 9:30 am Saturday, according to Fire Service statistics.
Also, At least four people were killed when a passenger train was torched by arsonists near Dhaka on Friday night. The BNP has demanded a UN-supervised investigation into the incident which it described as a "pre-planned" act of sabotage.
A total of eight people, including BNP leader Nabi Ullah Nabi, was arrested in connection with the arson case.
"This government out and out from head to neck is corrupt... This is not a democratic government. Development cannot be there without democracy. People's participation must be there...We are holding a peaceful movement. We never believe in violence and destroying people's property," Nitai Roy Chowdhury, Vice Chairman of BNP, was quoted by The Associated Press.
Hasina has been in power since 2009 and won the last election in December 2018, in a poll marred by deadly violence and accusations of poll rigging. Amid severe criticism over the economic, Hasina is credited with skilfully negotiating the rival interests of India and China.
(With PTI inputs)