Election officers in Bangladesh started counting votes Sunday after folks solid their ballots in an election boycotted by the opposition events.
The polls, which befell amid incidents of significant political violence, seemed assured to provide a fifth time period in workplace to incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Hasina has presided over breakneck financial progress in a rustic as soon as beset by grinding poverty, however her authorities has additionally been accused of rights abuses and a crackdown on the opposition.
Her occasion confronted virtually no efficient rivals within the seats it contested however it prevented fielding candidates in a couple of constituencies, more likely to keep away from the legislature being branded a one-party establishment.
“Vote counting has begun,” election fee spokesman Shariful Alam informed AFP late Sunday.
The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), whose ranks are in ruins over years of organizational mismanagements and high-profile arrests, referred to as a basic strike and urged the general public to not take part within the “sham” election.
But Hasina, 76, referred to as for residents to solid their ballots and present their religion within the democratic course of.
“The BNP is a terrorist organization,” she informed reporters after casting her vote.
“I am trying my best to ensure that democracy should continue in this country,” she added.
Results are anticipated as early as Monday morning.
Initial indicators instructed that turnout was low. At midday, based on Election Commission Secretary Jahangir Alam, turnout stood at 18.5%.
Many stated they’d not voted as a result of the end result was assured.
“When one party is participating and another is not, why would I go to vote?” stated Mohammad Saidur, 31, who pulls a rickshaw.
“We all know who’s going to win,” stated Farhana Manik, 27, a scholar.
BNP head Tarique Rahman, talking from Britain the place he lives in exile, stated he fearful about poll stuffing.
“I fear that the election commission may increase voter turnout by using fake votes,” he informed the Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Source: www.dailysabah.com