Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina mocked the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for boycotting Sunday's general election, calling it a “terrorist organization” and adding that it was trying to ensure the country remained democratic.
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“The BNP is a terrorist organization,” she said after casting her vote shortly after voting began at 8 a.m. local time on Sunday. Accompanied by her daughter and other family members, Hasina voted at City College, Dhaka.
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She also emphasized the importance of democracy for the country's development.
“Our country is sovereign and independent… We have a large population. We have established the democratic rights of the people… I want to ensure that democracy continues in this country and without democracy no development is possible.” “We are a long-term democratic system from 2009 to 2023, that's why Bangladesh has achieved such great success” , news agency ANI quoted Hasina as saying.
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“Bangladesh is a sovereign country and the people are my power,” Hasina added, saying she hoped her party would win the popular mandate, which would give her a fifth term.
The BNP, the opposition party led by former Prime Minister Khalida Zia, refused to take part in the elections against the Hasina-led Awami League, saying they would be neither free nor fair. She also called for a 48-hour nationwide strike on Saturday to demand the resignation of Hasina's “illegal government” and urged the public not to take part in what she called a “sham election.”
Hasina is expected to win her fourth consecutive term and fifth overall in the absence of the main opposition in the 12th general election.
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According to the country's electoral commission, a total of 119.6 million registered voters are eligible to vote on Sunday at over 42,000 polling stations.
Voting will take place in 299 out of 300 constituencies. The election for a center will take place later as a candidate there has died. Over 1,500 candidates from 27 political parties and 436 independent candidates are taking part in the election.
Almost half of the almost 120 million eligible voters are women, while the number of first-time voters is around 15 million.
(With contributions from agencies)
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